Parents demand police inquiry as 2nd student suicide in 4 months rocks IIIT Basar

Meanwhile, several Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) cadres staged a protest at a government hospital in the Nirmal district, alleging mismanagement by the college authorities. They were later detained by the police.

“He died by suicide and it was purely a personal problem. He attempted suicide in his first year as well, and our college counsellor helped him a few times. We also informed the parents about suicide,” the college’s PRO told South First.

As per the 2021 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, at least 567 students died by suicide in 2021 in Telangana — the highest in the last eight years.

Parents express doubt

As per reports, the parents of Prasad alleged that their son was an active participant in the students’ agitation on campus. They added that he was not cowardly enough to end his life.

The boy’s family also alleged that he had died three days ago — on 16 December.

They asked why the college authorities did not retrieve the boy’s body until the smell of rotting emanated from his room.

Expressing grief, they alleged that the college authorities informed them about the suicide much later.

“We saw the body only yesterday, and now the post-mortem report will tell us when he died,” said the PRO on Monday.

The parents, reportedly, also called for stern action against the officials if they were found guilty.

Meanwhile, the cops set up barricades after sensing tensions at the hospital and the college.

Read more: Southern states record 2,900 student suicides every year

‘Note clearly says suicide’

The police rushed to the scene after they were alerted by the college authorities and shifted the body to a government hospital for autopsy after the inquest.

The cops also recovered a suicide note near the body, purportedly written by the deceased.

“The suicide note clearly said that he (Prasad) was going through a tough situation psychologically. He has also not accused or suspected anyone,” Challa Praveen Kumar, Superintendent of the Nirmal district, told South First.

The police have registered a case under the CrPC Section 174 (to enquire and report on suicide).

“The suicide note added that he was not able to able to focus on his studies,” a student of IIIT-Basar told South First.

The student added that classes at the college went on smoothly and regularly despite a bandh (strike) called by student leaders.

In June 2021, the students protested for three weeks demanding that the state government improve basic infrastructure amenities on the campus and fill up vacant posts, including a full-time vice-chancellor. The government eventually agreed to meet their demands.

Second suicide in four months

This is reportedly the second student suicide at IIIT-Basar in the last four months.

In August this year, a 19-year-old first-year- BTech student named Rathod Suresh hung himself from the ceiling in his hostel room.

A native of the Dichpally village in the Nizamabad district, Suresh was suspected to have taken the extreme step due to personal reasons.

In May 2020, Bondla Sanjay (16), a first-year PUC student at the institution, ended his life by jumping off a building inside the campus following a fight with his classmate over a girl.

“After our June strike, the administration became strict. We are not allowed to roam in the campus after 6 pm or celebrate birthdays,” the aforementioned student told South First.

Read more: Student suicides back in focus as 3 end life in 1 day in Hyderabad