MEGHALAYA: Ri-Bhoi girl found dead at hostel in Rajasthan

NONGPOH: Nineteen-year-old Walinda Binong from Ri-Bhoi was found dead in her hostel room at the School of Design, Mody University, Lakshammgarh, Sikar, Rajasthan, on Thursday, under mysterious circumstances. The teenager’s sudden death has left the family and community in shock.
Binong was the daughter of Rubi Binong and Kobita Syiem, and a resident of Nongagang Marngar village in Ri-Bhoi.
According to the statement of her cousin brother, Woming Binong, Walinda was admitted into the School of Design at Mody University in October last year. Since then, she had been residing at the girl’s hostel run by the institute.
Although she was regularly communicating with her family, there were no indications that Walinda was going through any issues. She had returned home for a week in March this year as her mother was unwell. She however returned on March 20.
However, on April 27, her father Ruby Binong received a call from the institute telling him that his daughter was in a critical condition and requesting him to take her back home. Since the last flight from Guwahati to Jaipur was unfortunately fully booked, Ruby Binong could not board the flight sooner. He took the 6 am flight on April 28 and reached the institute in the evening.
On reaching the institute, he was reportedly told by some professors that his daughter Walinda was no more.
They told him Walinda had consumed poison and subsequently hanged herself inside her hostel room. The body of the deceased had been taken to the community health centre in Lakshammgarh, Sikar, Rajasthan.
Ruby Binong, however, argued that his daughter would not kill herself.
According to him, Walinda had recently called him to tell him about a fashion designing festival at the institute, of which she was chosen to be the host. She had also reportedly told her father that a few of her hostel mates were jealous of her and had sought his opinion on the matter.
Although the father advised Walinda to not go for it, the institute still chose her to be the host.
Walinda’s father suspects foul play, and considers her hostel mates as suspects. He has urged the concerned authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring those involved to justice.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police of Ri-Bhoi, Giri Prasad, told The Shillong Times that the Rajasthan Police had already taken up the matter for investigation as a case of suicide by hanging. Prasad also clarified that no FIR had been filed at Nongpoh Police Station.
The FIR would be officially filed only at the place where the occurrence took place, he added.
According to the SP, the Meghalaya Police is coordinating with its Rajasthan counterpart in the case.
Walinda’s body is expected to be brought back to Nongpoh on Sunday morning.
The tragic news of Walinda Binong’s death has shocked the local community, and everyone is mourning her untimely demise. The circumstances surrounding her death are yet to be fully understood, and the police investigation is under way.