IIT Delhi student dies by suicide on campus, second such case since March: Police

The police control room received a call regarding a student who jumped from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex at the IIT Delhi campus.

A 31-year-old Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi student, pursuing an MSc in Physics, died, allegedly by suicide, on the campus on Saturday morning, police officers said. The student allegedly jumped from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex (LHC) at the IIT Delhi campus.

Police officers said their further enquiry revealed that at around 8 am, the student entered the IIT Delhi campus through the main gate. (Representational Image (RAJ K RAJ /HT))

Police said no suicide note was recovered from the student’s possession or from the incident spot, and they were trying to ascertain the exact reason behind the step.

Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Amit Goel said that around 8.33am on Saturday, the police control room received a call regarding a student jumping from a building at the IIT Delhi campus. “A police team reached the spot and shifted the injured person to the IIT Delhi campus hospital, but declared dead on arrival,” said Goel.

Student took lift, jumped from building

Police said the probe revealed that around 8am, the student entered the campus through the main gate, went to the Lecture Hall Complex, took a lift to the 6th floor and allegedly jumped from the front side of the building.

“No apparent injury marks other than those attributable to the fall have come to notice. Police recovered a mobile phone from his trousers and will examine it as per due procedure. The counselling records and other relevant information from the institute are being obtained, and the facts are being verified. Further legal action is being taken as per law,” added the DCP.

IIT Delhi's statement

Meanwhile, IIT Delhi, in an official statement, stated, “The institute deeply mourns the tragic and untimely demise of an M.Sc. student. The Delhi Police are investigating the incident. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family. The institute is providing all support to them.”

Police said a crime team and a forensic science laboratory (FSL) unit were called to collect evidence.

Second such incident since March

This is the second alleged suicide at the IIT Delhi campus since March, when a 19-year-old first-year B.Tech student died by suicide in his room inside the campus.

A day after the incident, police registered a case and initiated an investigation. IIT Delhi had that time sent an e-mail to students, urging them to reach out to counselling services.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.

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