The body of Dr. Divya V, a junior resident doctor at AIIMS Bhubaneswar from Karnataka, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her rented house in the Dumduma area on Tuesday evening.
Police from the Khandagiri police station were called after her roommate returned home, found the door locked, and received no response to phone calls. Upon entering the house, officers discovered the body hanging inside.
Initial investigation by police treats the death as a suspected suicide. However, the victim’s family and local sources have raised serious doubts, alleging it was a case of murder staged as suicide.
According to sources and allegations, Divya had been living with her male friend in the rented accommodation. A heated argument reportedly took place between them. It is alleged that during the altercation, the man struck her on the head with an iron rod, leading to her death. He then allegedly hung the body from the ceiling fan to make it appear as suicide before fleeing the scene.
There are suspicions that the incident occurred while the man was on duty. Police are now verifying these claims.
The family has strongly demanded a thorough investigation, rejecting the initial suicide theory. Questions have also been raised about whether any signs of struggle were found inside the house.
The exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem report and forensic examination. Police said further investigation is underway, including analysis of call records, circumstances, and evidence from the scene.
The incident has sparked concern among the medical community at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, with colleagues describing Divya as a bright and promising young doctor. It has also triggered discussions about the mental health and working conditions of resident doctors.
