AMU student found hanging in hostel room, protest on campus

The spokesperson of AMU said the student was alone in the room and it seems that he committed suicide by hanging himself. No suicide note was found.

An Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room on Tuesday night, police said.

The 23-year-old student, who had completed his Master of Social Work (MSW) course, was preparing to pursue research in the same field, university officials said. His body was found hanging in his room in Aftab Hostel. The police reached the campus and sent the body for post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, angry students staged a demonstration, alleging “delayed response” of the authorities to the incident, and damaged the car of superintendent of police (city) Abhishek Kumar after it reached the campus.

Six students have been named in a first information report (FIR) registered in connection with the incident, at Civil Lines police station in Aligarh, Kumar said on Wednesday. As many as 150 unidentified people have also been booked in this case.

“The 23-year-old student had returned from his native place two days ago. He was alone in the room and it seems that he committed suicide by hanging himself. No suicide note was found and the Civil Lines police were informed,” said Shafey Kidwai, spokesperson, AMU.

Family members have taken the body to their native place after the post-mortem examination on Wednesday, Kidwai said. “The university is peaceful and preparations are underway for [annual] Sir Syed Day celebrations on Thursday,” claimed Kidwai. The event is held in the honour of AMU founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

The SP said he was at Shamshad Market near AMU on Tuesday night, when he received a call from the university proctor about the alleged suicide and the unrest on the campus.

He claimed by the time he reached the hostel, police personnel had brought the body down.

“With the police having done formalities, I began leaving the spot on students’ request. While I was moving away, a few miscreants among students pelted the car with stones, damaging a window pane,” he added.