Woman PhD scholar found hanging in IIT-Madras hostel room

According to police sources, the woman was identified as Rajana Kumari who had joined IIT-Madras in 2017.

A 25-year-old woman research scholar from Jharkhand was found hanging in her hostel room in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras late on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT) at Chennai.(PTI File Photo)

According to police sources, the student has been identified as Rajana Kumari who had joined IIT Madras in 2017.

“Ranjana Kumari was doing PhD in metallurgy and materials engineering. When her parents tried to contact her through mobile, it was kept in switch off mode since Sunday. Therefore, they informed Ranjana Kumari’s friends to identify her. When they looked into Kumari’s room, she was found hanging,” sources with Kotturpuram Police said.

They also said Ranjana did not come out of her hostel room on December 31 for New Year celebrations.

“We have registered a case over this suicide and launched a probe to know the reason for Ranjana’s suicide. As far we have enquired, no one has said that Ranjana was in distress,” said an enquiry officer.

A final year student of oceanography from Kerala was also found hanging inside his hostel room at IIT Madras in September last year.