Shanti Kumari Death Mystery: The death of a young woman in Visalakshinagar, Visakhapatnam, has left many unanswered questions and a grieving family demanding justice. What began as a birthday celebration at a lodge ended in tragedy when 23-year-old Shanti Kumari was found dead under suspicious circumstances.
According to police, Shanti Kumari had gone to B-Square Lodge in the Visalakshinagar area along with a group of friends who had planned a birthday gathering. Two rooms — 118 and 119 — were reportedly rented for the occasion. The group included Vasupalli Saikiran, G. Yashwanth, Rampa Lakshmi Soujanya, Narava Saikumar, Pucha Saikiran and another friend named Mani.
Investigators say the group was drinking alcohol late into the night when an argument suddenly broke out. Saikiran allegedly confronted Shanti Kumari, accusing her of spreading rumors about his personal relationship with someone else. Shanti Kumari reportedly denied the allegations, but the confrontation quickly escalated.
Police say the verbal argument soon turned violent. Saikiran, along with Lakshmi Soujanya and Yashwanth, allegedly assaulted her during the heated exchange. Witness statements suggest the attack left Shanti Kumari deeply shaken and emotionally distressed.
The friends later told police that after the assault, Shanti Kumari suddenly suffered what they described as a “fit” and collapsed. They claimed they revived her by splashing water on her face and then asked her to rest in room number 118.
According to their version of events, Shanti Kumari locked the room from inside. When she did not respond for a long time, the group reportedly broke open the door and found her hanging from the ceiling fan. They rushed her to a hospital immediately, but doctors declared her dead on arrival.
However, the victim’s family strongly disputes this account. Shanti Kumari’s mother, Ramya, has accused the group of killing her daughter and attempting to portray the incident as suicide. She filed a complaint with the Arilova police demanding strict punishment for those responsible.
Ramya said her daughter had been invited to the lodge under the pretext of a birthday celebration and was later harassed and assaulted. She believes the injuries from the attack may have caused her daughter’s death. Shanti Kumari’s sister has also raised suspicions, claiming there is a possibility that she was strangled.
Police officials confirmed that the case has been registered as a suspicious death and an investigation is underway. Authorities have documented injuries on the body and collected statements from the individuals who were present at the lodge.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Narahsimhamurthy said the police are examining every possible angle, including whether Shanti Kumari died due to the assault or took the extreme step after the incident. CCTV footage from the lodge has also been examined as part of the investigation.
Preliminary findings indicate that several people had arrived at the lodge in the early hours of the morning, around 3 a.m. Investigators also noted chaotic scenes captured in the footage, including individuals breaking objects during the night.
Following questioning, police sent five young men and one woman to judicial remand in connection with the case. Officials said all those involved are between 20 and 25 years old.
Shanti Kumari lived with her mother in Jodugullapalem. Family members say she occasionally worked at events and had been helping her family manage responsibilities after the death of her father.
For her mother, the loss is both devastating and difficult to accept. She insists her daughter was strong and would never have taken her own life.
As forensic reports and further evidence are awaited, the truth behind Shanti Kumari’s death remains unclear. Police say the investigation is ongoing and more details will emerge once the post-mortem findings and forensic analysis are fully examined.