The investigation into the suicide of a 17-year-old schoolgirl in Chhattisgarh's Korea district has gathered pace with the arrest of an IC Mart operator accused of harassing the teenager over an alleged shoplifting incident. Police have arrested one accused, while two others remain absconding. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and sought a detailed report from the district administration.

The deceased, Pooja Singh, daughter of a police constable posted in Baikunthpur, allegedly died by suicide after being accused of stealing cosmetic products from a local supermarket. According to investigators, the teenager left behind a suicide note apologising to her parents and expressing distress over the humiliation she believed she had caused them.

One Accused Arrested, Two Still Absconding

Police have arrested Vinod Vaid (50), one of the operators of IC Mart, in connection with the case. The other two accused—Jagat Kumar Vaid (55) and his son Deepak Vaid (30)—are still on the run. Authorities had earlier announced a reward of ₹5,000 each for information leading to their arrest.

Following the arrest, investigators took Vinod Vaid to the supermarket as part of the evidence collection process. Korea Superintendent of Police Ravi Kumar Kurre is expected to brief the media on further developments in the investigation.

Allegations of Harassment Before Suicide

According to the police investigation, the supermarket operators accused the Class 11 student of stealing cosmetic products worth around ₹1,500. The girl's family has alleged that although she and her younger sister had not left the store with the items, the operators detained them, behaved inappropriately and forced the teenager to write a handwritten note admitting to theft.

Investigators also allege that the accused confiscated the girl's scooter and demanded money to return it. The family claims the demand initially stood at ₹20,000 and was later increased to ₹50,000.

Police are examining these allegations as part of the ongoing investigation.

Teenager Left Suicide Note

According to the investigation, Pooja Singh died by suicide after returning home. In her alleged suicide note, she apologised to her parents, writing that they were facing humiliation because of her.

The incident has sparked widespread public outrage, with several organisations demanding strict legal action against those responsible.

National ST Commission Seeks Report

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has decided to investigate the matter after taking note of media reports and a representation submitted by tribal leader Dr. Nand Kumar Sai.

In a notice issued to the district administration, the Commission directed authorities to submit an action taken report within three days. The notice states that failure to respond within the stipulated period could lead to proceedings under the constitutional powers vested in the Commission, including those equivalent to a civil court.

Community Demands Justice

Members of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj, led by former MLA Gulab Kamro, submitted a memorandum to the Korea Collector and Superintendent of Police, demanding the immediate arrest of all accused and strict legal action.

The organisation warned that if the remaining accused are not arrested promptly, it would launch a public protest. Family members, members of the police fraternity and local residents have also sought a transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to the teenager's death.

Investigation Continues

Police have registered a case against the accused and are continuing efforts to trace the two absconding suspects. Officials said statements of witnesses, documentary evidence and other material collected during the investigation will determine the next course of legal action.

The case has drawn significant attention across Chhattisgarh, with both law enforcement agencies and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes closely monitoring the progress of the investigation.