Mystery deepens over woman footballer’s death

DEHRADUN: Mystery shrouds over the death of 21-year-old state-level footballer Monica Chaudhary, with Pauri police finding it hard to establish whether she committed suicide, was killed or in fact died a natural death. Surprisingly, Monica’s family members performed her last rites in a rush, leaving no opportunity for the authorities to conduct a post mortem of the body.
While initial reports suggested that it was a case of a suicide, Monica’s mother Saroj Devi presented a theory that her daughter fell ill after consuming meat during Navratras and that she died a natural death on the evening of October 6. Without informing the Kotdwar police, the family cremated the body early next morning.
However, a letter written by Monica’s maternal aunt Neeta Devi to Pauri SP Ajay Joshi has further complicated the matter. In her letter, Neeta has claimed that Monica’s father Triloki Singh died four years ago and that Monica did not share a good relationship with her mother, who indulged in certain “unwanted activities.”
Neeta maintained that Monica had been murdered by her mother and to hush up the matter, the body was cremated without informing the police or carrying out post mortem. She has demanded stringent legal action against Saroj and other involved in the crime.
Pauri SP Ajay Joshi said, “There is some substance in the complaint made by Neeta. However, we cannot arrive at any conclusion till the time probe in the matter is completed.” He pointed out that in her complaint, Neeta has mentioned that Monica was under stress and depressed due to her mother.
Following the complaint, police have started collecting information to ascertain the real cause of Monica’s death. As part of the initial probe, police have found that Monica was taken to a quack by her mother. “We have questioned the quack, who said that the girl was feeling weak and he had given her some medicines,” said Joshi.
He also mentioned that Monica had represented the state at the national level and that locals were proud of her. “As per the information we have received, she represented Uttarakhand on three occasions.”
Locals told police that Monica played a state-level tournament and had performed well in it.
Meanwhile, one of Monica’s close friends, who did not wish to be named, said Neeta has made a complaint against Saroj for monetary gains. “After Triloki’s death, Saroj left his ancestral residence and started living in a rented house. Neeta wants to accuse Monica’s mother to get control of the property,” he said.
He pointed out that the family wasn’t financially very well-off and that Monica made a valuable contribution in running the household.