At IIT-M, one kills self, another attempts to end life

CHENNAI: Two suicidal incidents stirred unrest among students in IIT Madras since Monday night. In two separate incidents a research scholar allegedly killed himself on Monday night while a first year B.Tech student attempted to kill himself and is undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The deceased Steven Sunny, 25, hailing from Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra a second year MS Research scholar in Electrical Engineering department killed himself at his room in Mahanadi hostel. According to the police, Steven returned to his room in the campus on Monday afternoon and was not seen until night.

His friends were suspicious that Sunny did not open the door even after repeated knocks on the door. They informed the hostel warden and broke open the door. They found him dead. He had hanged himself, " police said.

Based on the information, the Kotturpuram police registered a case and sent his body to the Royapettah Government Hospital for post mortem. Police hinted that the student took the extreme decision due to personal reasons. However, the police have taken hold of his gadgets and are investigating.

Earlier on Monday Kotturpuram police received another information about a student named B Veevesh who was found unconscious in his room. On Monday afternoon at around 12.30 Veevesh returned to his room in the hostel and did not attend any classes until evening, said the police. His friends who returned to the room at around 5 pm found that the door was locked from inside. They broke open the door and found Veevesh lying unconscious on the floor.

On information, he was rushed to a private hospital where he is being treated. Police said that Veevesh allegedly depressed for the past few weeks and he consumed 21 random tablets, in an attempt to end his life.

Following the two incidents, students staged a sit-in protest inside the campus till 7 am Tuesday after which the IIT Madras management expressed its condolences for the death of a student. It also mentioned that, "The Institute endeavours and assures to improve and sustain the well-being of the students/scholars, faculty and staff on campus while constantly evaluating the various support systems in place".

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