KOLKATA: A second suicide within a span of 20 days has sent shock waves among students of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in West Bengal. Nidhin N (22), a fourth year aerospace engineering student hailing from Haripad in Alappuzha district of Kerala, was found hanging from the ceiling of his room in Nehru Hall of Residence in IIT Kharagpur on Friday evening.
“Let me sleep,” Nidhin’s suicide note found in his room, read. His friends have claimed that he was suffering from depression for the past few months. Police have sent the body for post-mortem and have begun a probe.
On April 1, a fourth year electrical engineering student hailing from Andhra Pradesh had committed suicide before the railway tracks near the campus.
The head of Sana Sreeraj (20) was found lying severed from the body on the railway tracks. Though police claimed it was a case of suicide due to depression, the deceased’s father Ramanna demanded a CBI probe alleging that his son was harassed by his classmates which forced him to take the extreme step.
The year began with an Adivasi student from Dausa, Rajasthan committing suicide on the railway tracks in the city outskirts on ‘Rohith Shahadat Din’ (the first death anniversary of Rohit Vemula) on January 17.
Lokesh Meena, a 20-year-old third year civil engineering student, was found dead on railway tracks between Jakpur and Madpur near Kharagpur. Initial probe concluded that Lokesh was depressed due to detection of a curable disease a few months back.
Meanwhile, suicides in a row have naturally sent shock waves among the students, who have recently completed the placement season and are at present taking semester examination.
According to his relatives, Nidhin was preparing for an exam scheduled for Friday, but did not attempt it and locked himself inside the hostel room the whole day. His friends grew suspicious and informed the hostel authorities, who broke the windowpane and found the student hanging from the ceiling.
He is survived by his parents—Nazar, the manager of SBI Oochira branch and Nadiya, an employee with the Land Acquisition wing of Railways, Kayamkulam.
“I think it is high time that counseling is taken seriously both by institute and by students to help their peers,” N Sriram, a mechanical engineering student said.
Even the professors are appalled by the string of suicides.
“All the three deceased are just in their early twenties, who have just seen the morning of their lives. I personally believe we professors should take responsibility in helping students with their issues and encourage them to open up more during personal interactions at our office cabins,” said a professor who wished to remain anonymous.