Manju Devi at Patna Medical College and Hospital. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Fear seems to be playing havoc on the mind of Gandaman Primary School cook Manju Devi.

On Tuesday, when the 22 midday meal survivors were released from Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) after they prevailed over the poison served to them on July 16 during lunch, Manju refused to go back to Dharmasati-Gandaman village fearing angry residents would lynch her.

PMCH superintendent Amar Kant Jha Amar said at present Manju is scared and is under tremendous depression.

“She doesn’t have poison traces and is being treated for depression. She has some fears and we need to help her. She will be staying at the PMCH, along with two other children and their families. Sending her with the 22 meal survivors on Tuesday would have been risky. With emotions running high in Gandaman, villagers could have reacted violently. The remaining children would be sent home in a few days. Manju, too, could be shifted to her village after sundown when there are not many people around,” the superintendent told The Telegraph.

Contemplating on the issue, the state government as well as the district administration in Saran is planning to take advantage of the dark to send Manju home.

Sources said the health department was in talks with the Saran district administration towards providing security to her.

“She could be shifted to the village in the small hours or in the night so that when she enters her house not many people could see. But she has to live in the village and we have to find a way out to deal with the situation,” an officer with the department said.

Officers in the Saran administration said they were in talks with the villagers so that nothing untoward happens to the cook.

“She has no threat at present. After the meal tragedy struck, she was in a critical condition too. She, however, survived the ordeal. If needed, security would be provided to her. We are also speaking to the villagers and they said they don’t hold any grudge against her,” Saran district administration Abhijit Sinha said.