Post News Network
Sambalpur, Feb 20: In a shocking incident, a first year Post Graduate (PG) student of Sambalpur University allegedly committed ‘suicide’ by hanging herself in her hostel room at the
university campus Friday morning. The student, identified as Preetipriya Sahu (21) of English department hanged
herself from the ceiling fan of her room using a scarf, sources said.
On being informed, Burla police rushed to the spot and brought her to a hospital in Burla where she was declared brought dead. The reason behind her suicide is yet to be known, police said.
Police also stated that the body of the girl was sent for post-mortem. A case was registered at Burla police station in this regard, police added. Sources said the victim, daughter of Binay Sahu from Badamal village in Bolangir district, had been staying in room no 18 of Silver Jubilee hostel along with three other girls. Pritipriya’s roommates left the hostel Friday morning to attend their seminar after she expressed her unwillingness. Pritipriya, however, told her friends that she would attend the seminar later.
As she did not turn up for the seminar, Pritipriya’s friends contacted her over phone. Pritipriya, however, informed her friends that she was suffering pain in her chest. After a while, her friends and hostel warden went to her room in Silver Jubilee hostel.
After reaching there, they found the room was locked inside.
Though Pritipriya’s friends knocked the door several times, she did not respond. As she did not respond, they broke open the door and found her hanging and
informed the police. Her fellow boarders claimed that Pritipriya was in cheerful mood when she was rehearsing a cultural programme, scheduled to be staged during Friday’s seminar, in the hostel common room Thursday evening. Hostel
superintendent, hostel warden and other officials of the university reached the hostel and abused her while she was rehearsing dance, sources added.
She was under duress after the incident and maintained silence since then. The harassment by the varsity officials might have prompted the girl to take such an extreme step, students alleged. The varsity officials, however, dismissed the allegations of harassment. “The allegations are false and baseless. She was a bright and meritorious student,” said PG Council chairman Ramshankar Nanda. A pall of gloom descended on the varsity campus following her death. The incident also sent shockwaves among students who have demanded a high level inquiry into the case.
