Visakhapatnam student’s texts to kin before suicide points to sexual harassment in college

The police have registered a case under sections 306 (abetment to commit suicide), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. They have also registered a case of ragging.

Meanwhile, the family alleged foul play by the college management regarding the alleged involvement of a faculty member.

Further, the victim’s brother told reporters that the police told him they were busy with political campaigns and Indian Premiere League (IPL) duties.

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Messages hint at involvement of faculty

The messages sent by the teenager to her family — which were accessed by South First — before she allegedly jumped from her hostel building, hinted at the involvement of faculty.

“All of you take care, I miss you all so much. The reason for me to commit suicide is because of the sexual harassment going on in this college. You may ask me to report this to the faculty. But if one among the faculty is involved in this, how would we tell them Nanna (father)? They are behaving very badly; they even took my pictures and are blackmailing me. The faculty has to warn the students, but the same faculty members are encouraging them,” the message notes.

She further stated, “This is happening to not just me but many others in the college. They are threatening us of uploading the pictures on social media if we approach the police.”

Pothinamallayya Palem Circle Inspector (CI) Y Ramakrishna, who is investigating the case, told South First that the girl did not name anyone in the messages, and they are investigating the case.

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The incident

She reportedly did not attend college or her study circle on 28 March.

The family of the first-year diploma student, residing in the neighbouring Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh, received a call from the institute’s authorities around 9 pm on 28 March, informing them that she had gone missing.

Upon her prolonged unresponsiveness to calls, the family informed the police. She reportedly left her room around 11:50 pm on 28 March.

She went to the terrace of her hostel building and allegedly jumped down from there at around 1:05 am on Friday.

Ramakrishna noted, “So far, no technical link has been established, and no one is speaking on this for now, but we are on it.” The police have registered POSCO sections, abetment to commit suicide, and punishment for criminal intimidation.

However, the family claimed that no fractures were found in her body. They said the college authorities informed them about her absence at around 9.30 pm.

The family further said that the police checked the CCTV footage only up to 9.30 pm and questioned why they did not examine the footage between 9.30 pm and 1.05 am.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)