Chandigarh witnessed a disturbing incident on Saturday afternoon when a 30-year-old woman was discovered dead inside the women’s public toilet at the iconic Rose Garden. The case, which unfolded around 3:15 pm, has triggered a high-level police investigation as officers work to determine whether the death was a murder or a suicide.
Screams Alert Visitors; Police Rush to the Spot
According to witnesses, panic spread when visitors heard loud screams coming from inside the toilet complex. Traffic personnel stationed at the main gate were immediately alerted, after which the police swiftly reached the location.
Officers requested a woman at the spot to check inside the toilet. She found Diksha Thakur, a 30-year-old woman, lying unconscious in a pool of blood with a deep and sharp injury on her neck, believed to have been caused by a kitchen knife.
Victim Declared Dead; Knife Recovered From Scene
Diksha was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Forensic experts recovered a knife suspected to have been used in the incident. Her identity was established after police found a Bihar Staff Selection Commission form in her bag.
The body has been sent to GMSH-16 for post-mortem examination, which is expected to play a crucial role in determining the cause of death.
Police Officials Examine Scene; Personal Background Emerges
Senior police officials, including DSP (Central) Dalbir Singh Bhinder and Sector 3 SHO Narinder Singh Patial, inspected the crime scene as forensic teams collected evidence.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Diksha was separated from her husband, who lives in Saharanpur, UP, for nearly a year. The couple has a three-year-old son.
Diksha had been staying as a PG resident in Phase 11, Mohali, and worked as a customer care executive at Chaupal TV in Chandigarh’s Industrial Area, Phase 2.
Recent Health Issues and Unusual Movement on the Day
Police learnt that Diksha had been on leave for over a week due to health concerns. On Monday, she had visited Alchemist Hospital with her brother-in-law and was prescribed anti-anxiety medication.
On the day of the incident, she rejoined work but left around 2 pm, citing health issues. She neither took her usual route home nor informed her brother-in-law, who routinely helped with her commute.
Murder or Suicide? Police Probe Continues
Investigators are currently examining all possible angles, including:
- Assault
- Personal enmity
- Suicide
Police noted that there were no signs of struggle on Diksha’s body and only one deep injury mark, raising the possibility of self-harm. Her bag contained multiple anti-depressant medicines, further complicating the direction of the probe.
Two mobile phones and her bag were recovered from the scene. Police are reviewing CCTV footage from around the Rose Garden to determine Diksha’s movements and to check if she was accompanied by anyone before entering the park.
Authorities say a clear conclusion will be drawn only after the post-mortem report is submitted.