In a somber incident, a 31-year-old M.Tech second-year student, Vikas Kumar Meena, was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-Kanpur), as reported by the police on Thursday. The motive behind this tragic incident remains unclear, but initial investigations suggest that Meena had allegedly taken this extreme step after facing academic challenges.
Meena, a resident of Meerut, had enrolled in the M.Tech course in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in 2021. According to police officials, he had reportedly failed three exam papers, leading to his “temporary” removal from the course. It is worth noting that students typically have the opportunity to retake exams in such circumstances.
On the day of the incident, fellow students in the hostel became concerned when they discovered Meena’s room locked from the inside, and he did not respond to repeated calls. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) West, Akash Patel, stated that after hostel authorities were alerted, they broke open the door and found Meena hanging from the ceiling fan.
Meena was promptly taken to the IIT’s health center and subsequently transferred to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, where he was declared brought dead by the Kalyanpur Station House Officer (SHO) Dhananjay Pandey.
While investigating the tragic incident, the police are attempting to locate a purported “suicide note” that is reportedly circulating among some individuals. ADCP Patel mentioned the existence of a soft copy, but efforts are underway to obtain a hard copy for further examination.
A senior police official, speaking anonymously, suggested that Meena’s temporary removal from the course after failing three exams may have led to severe depression, potentially contributing to his decision to take his own life.
The IIT-Kanpur administration, through a press release, expressed deep sorrow over Meena’s untimely demise. The institute acknowledged the loss of a young and promising student and confirmed that a forensic team has been involved in the investigation. The institute awaits further findings from the police to ascertain the likely cause of Meena’s tragic death. The incident underscores the importance of mental health support systems within academic institutions and the need for compassionate handling of students facing academic challenges.
Users Today : 5
Users Yesterday : 8