Jharkhand cops question Nirupama’s friends

NEW DELHI - Six friends of journalist Nirupama Pathak, who was found dead at her Jharkhand home last month, were questioned by the Jharkhand Police here, Delhi Police said Sunday.

According to the police, six common friends of Pathak and her boyfriend Priyabhanshu Ranjan were being questioned.

Ranjan, against whom the Jharkhand Police Saturday filed a case of cheating, rape and abetment to suicide, may be taken to Koderma, where Pathak’s family home is, for further investigations.

According to the police, Pathak sent 33 SMSs to Ranjan between April 19 and 28, but he allegedly deleted all of them and during questioning, said he had received only one message. Ranjan had also allegedly taken away the laptop and diaries from Nirupama’s Delhi house when she went to Koderma.

Pathak, 23, was found dead in her home in Jharkhand’s Koderma district April 29. Her last rites were performed as per Hindu traditions Sunday.