Rats gnaw at girl's body

21-year-old found dead at home, police suspect suicide

A 21-year-old woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances with a mobile phone in her hand in a rented house in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on Wednesday.

Injury marks were found on the body, which also seems to have been partially eaten by rats, police said.

Reingamphy hailed from Manipur’s Ukhrul district. “Prima facie, it seems she committed suicide by consuming some toxic or poisonous substance. Her mobile phone was also found in her hand,” a police officer said.

Initial police probe revealed that Reingamphy’s male friend used to regularly visit her. He had come to last on Tuesday, but she did not open the door. “Details are being obtained about the male friend, and this aspect will be examined,” the officer added.

Police said they learnt about the incident after a call was made to them around 11.55 am. “Reingamphy’s landlord informed that she was not opening the door of the ground floor,” the officer said.

On the spot, police control room and local police staff found the main door bolted from inside. “We forcibly opened the door in presence of public and found her body,” the officer added.

The body, with injury marks on eyes and near toes, was taken to AIIMS for a post-mortem.

“Nature of wounds suggest that a portion of the body was eaten by rodents. Movement marks of some small animals, possibly rats, are there on a white bedsheet and mattress on the floor,” the officer said.

Police also found droppings of rats in an adjoining room. Empty wrappers of Spasmocip Plus’ 16 tablets (diclomine hydrochloride) and Meftal-Spas’ 12 tablets were also found in dustbin. “We suspect that she might have consumed them,” the officer added.

A crime team also examined the house and confirmed that there was no other entry in the two-room house at Chirag Dilli. “Access from the first floor is theoretically possible, but no tell tale sign is there on wall,” the officer said.

Malviya Nagar police station is investigating the matter under section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). “The exact cause of death cannot be ascertained without the post-mortem report,” the officer added.