Chhattisgarh cop's daughter dies by suicide after shoplifting accusation at mart

RAIPUR: What could have ended with an apology or a police complaint instead culminated in the death of a 17-year-old schoolgirl in Chhattisgarh's Koriya district, raising questions over alleged public humiliation and intimidation of a minor accused of shoplifting.A day after she was accused of stealing cosmetic items from a departmental store, the Class XI student died by suicide at her home in Baikunthpur on Wednesday, triggering protests, demands for arrests and a police investigation that has led to the sealing of the store and registration of an FIR against three persons.The teenager, daughter of a police constable, was found hanging at her residence. Her family alleged she was humiliated and coerced into signing a written confession after being accused of shoplifting, leaving her under severe mental distress.Police have booked store owner Deepak Baid, along with Vinod Baid and Jagat Baid, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to abetment of suicide, extortion and other offences, besides invoking relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The supermarket has been sealed, CCTV footage seized and the main accused is absconding.According to the family, the girl had gone to the store with her younger sister on Tuesday to buy household items when staff accused them of attempting to steal cosmetic products worth around Rs 1,500. Although the girls had not left the premises with the items, the family alleged they were forced to prepare a handwritten list of the products and sign a written confession admitting to theft.The family further alleged that the store management confiscated the teenager's scooter and initially demanded Rs 20,000 for its release. They claimed the amount was later raised to Rs 50,000 when the girl's father approached the store the next morning.The constable alleged he was unable to recover the scooter despite offering Rs 20,000 and informed his wife about the incident over the phone. According to the family, the teenager, who overheard the conversation and was already distressed over the previous day's events, died by suicide while her parents were away.The girl's mother collapsed after discovering her daughter's body and was admitted to the district hospital, where she remains under treatment.The incident sparked widespread protests in Baikunthpur on Thursday. Hundreds of residents, relatives and police personnel gathered outside the city police station before blocking the Baikunthpur–Ambikapur road near the departmental store, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and strict action.Koriya Superintendent of Police Ravi Kurre said the investigation was progressing on multiple fronts and efforts were underway to trace the absconding accused."The girl was too stressed up after being accused of theft and over the seized scooter. She could not tell her father because she was embarrassed with the insult and that she would be scolded. The mart owner had no authority to confiscate the scooter or act on his own instead of informing the police," the SP told reporters.Former MLA Ambika Singhdeo, councillor Lalita Singh and other local representatives joined the protests, demanding a fair investigation and swift action against those responsible.