BBA Student Found Dead in Sharda Canal; Family Claims Harassment by ‘Nishant’ Led to Suicide

A shocking tragedy has gripped Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh, as the body of 16-year-old BBA student Mahakpreet Kaur was recovered from the Sharda Canal. The student, originally from Sitapur, had been missing for 18 days, leaving her family and community in deep shock. A suicide note written in Punjabi, recovered from her bag, suggests that she took the extreme step due to prolonged harassment.

According to police, Mahakpreet’s bike and bag were found abandoned on December 16, 2025, near the Sharda Canal bridge, approximately 12 kilometres from her home. The handwritten note addressed to her father read: “Love you Dad… please forgive me. I am tired of Nishant’s harassment. I will not return. I am taking this step due to my mistakes. No one else should be blamed.”

The body was discovered on January 2 at the Sharda auxiliary canal bridge near Jarkha village in Fatehpur Kotwali area. Initially, the identity of the deceased could not be established. On January 3, Sitapur police confirmed that the body was that of Mahakpreet Kaur, daughter of Jagdeep Singh of Nyurajpur village, Biswan police station area.

Mahakpreet had gone missing on December 15, the day she left home to appear for her BBA examination in Sitapur. Her family stated that she remained in touch until 1:21 pm, after which her mobile phone went off. When she did not return home by late night, her family lodged a missing person complaint. Her body was later found 55 kilometres away from her home.

Family alleges police inaction
Relatives claim that a local youth named Nishant had been troubling Mahakpreet, and she had confided in her younger sister about the harassment. Despite complaints, the Sitapur police reportedly did not take any effective action. Mahakpreet, the eldest of three sisters, was a diligent student and regularly commuted to college on her bike.

Sitapur police are currently investigating the case. Fatehpur Kotwali Inspector Sanjit Kumar Sonkar stated that after the post-mortem and formal identification, the body was handed over to the family. Authorities continue to probe the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

The incident has sparked outrage in the local community, highlighting concerns over harassment, adolescent safety, and the need for timely action by law enforcement.