BSc topper dies by suicide in Panna:Names accused in harassment case, police recover evidence and arrest him

A 22-year-old BSc student from Panna district allegedly died by suicide after consuming poison, reportedly due to prolonged harassment and blackmail by a young man. Before her death, the student, Srishti Mishra, recorded an emotional video in which she alleged that she had been trapped, blackmailed, and threatened with the circulation of videos. According to police, the video was recovered from her mobile phone along with a suicide note and WhatsApp chats that are now part of the investigation. Student recorded video before death In the video, Srishti is seen crying as she claims that several people had conspired against her. She alleges that she was being blackmailed and threatened with the release of videos, leaving her unable to cope with the situation. She names a man identified as Barkhu Thakur and alleges that he was responsible for ruining her life. In the recording, she says she no longer felt able to face her parents and was ending her life because of the distress she had endured. See these pictures. Police recover suicide note and digital evidence According to Ajaygarh Police, investigators recovered the video from Srishti’s mobile phone along with a suicide note and WhatsApp conversations. Police said the evidence points to allegations of blackmail and mental harassment. The accused, Barkhu Thakur, was arrested on June 8. He was subsequently produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody. Father says, ‘Daughter was distressed by blackmail’ Srishti’s father, Suresh Kumar Mishra, said his daughter had topped her college in the final year of her BSc programme just a day before the incident. While the family was celebrating her academic achievement, she had reportedly been struggling with harassment and blackmail for an extended period. He alleged that the accused had harassed his daughter in the past and had temporarily stopped after being confronted, but later resumed troubling her. According to the family, the accused would frequently visit their home and pressure Srishti to speak with him. When she refused, he allegedly threatened and mentally harassed her. Poison consumption and death during treatment The family said Srishti suddenly began vomiting on the evening of June 5, and they noticed a strong smell resembling pesticide. She was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. Despite medical efforts, she died during treatment on June 6. Congress targets state government The incident has also triggered a political response. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari shared the video on social media and criticized the state government over law-and-order issues. He alleged that the case reflected serious concerns regarding public safety and demanded justice for the deceased student. Investigation underway The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of Panna Superintendent of Police Nivedita Naidu. Ajaygarh police have examined mobile data, video recordings, the suicide note, and chat records as part of the probe. Police said the accused has been arrested and sent to jail, while further investigation into the allegations is continuing.