Student ‘dies by suicide’ in Durgapur med college hostel

Durgapur: A second-year student was found dead in his hostel at a Durgapur medical college on Saturday night. The deceased, 22-year-old Lavanya Pratap from Patna, was found hanging from the ceiling by his neck in his hostel room at IQ City Medical College, reports Mohammad Asif.Lavanya's father Anil Kumar, who reached Durgapur on Sunday said he had called his son's friends after repeated calls on Lavanya's phone went unanswered. "His friends rushed to his room and found it locked from the inside. They broke down the door and found him hanging," he said. Lavanya was taken to IQ City Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Police suspect Lavanya died by suicide.
Anil said Lavanya had told him that some teachers had been harassing students over practical marks and he had urged the college administration to look into the matter. Lavanya's performance in the first year final exam, results of which were declared four months ago, was not good. He had asked for a review, his father said. "We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief. The institution stands in solidarity with them and is extending all possible support. The safety, well-being, and mental health of our students remain our highest priority. Since the administration is seized of the matter, we request that privacy be respected and speculation be avoided," college spokesperson Sudarshana Gangulle said in a statement while adding that the institute was extending all cooperation to police.A case of unnatural death has been registered. Lavanya's body has been sent for postmortem.