Shalini Narayan : New Delhi, Sat Feb 11 2012, 01:04 hrs
Seven months after Dinesh Ahlawat, a first-year chemical engineering student, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in an IIT Delhi hostel, his father has filed a case of abetment to suicide, saying ragging by seniors forced his son to end his life.
Dinesh died two days before his 19th birthday. His father Yashveer Singh, who teaches science at a school in Rohtak, alleged that Dinesh spoke to him twice and complained that he had been ragged by seniors.
When his body was found on August 4 in the Zanskar hostel, police ruled out ragging as a reason for the alleged suicide and said he may have had “adjustment problems and homesickness”.
While investigating officers said the case was one of suicide, Dinesh’s death remained a mystery since he was found hanging with his hands tied with a handkerchief and legs bound with his vest. Police now say the probe will continue, that the autopsy concluded it was “suicidal hanging” with no external injury marks on the body.
Yashveer Singh appealed before the Saket court, saying he wasn’t satisfied with the response he got from the institute or the police. The court directed police to register a case. A case under IPC Section 306 — abetment of suicide — has been registered.
In his statement to the police, Singh said: “Students had to break open the door to get in and lower my son’s body. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead. On 30.7.2011, he told me he was ragged by his seniors. I spoke to him on August 1 and 2 when he spoke to the rest of the family too. Later, I found out that on August 3, seniors had ragged the juniors.”
“I strongly suspect that it was because of this (ragging) that my son felt humiliated and took his life,” Singh said.
He told Newsline: “My son called me and told me that he would be coming home for his birthday... The college administration has hidden the real issue from us. Otherwise, why was my son’s body discovered by three seniors? What were seniors doing in his hostel at that time?”
Shashi Mathur, Dean of Students at IIT Delhi, said: “We are as confused about the matter as anyone else. He was a bright student, a very nice boy. An inquiry committee was constituted which stated that there was no element of ragging. The institute carries out regular sessions on anti-ragging awareness. I lead the team that goes around the 12 hostels and counsel students about the Supreme Court ruling. It is mandatory for students to attend this.”
Chhaya Sharma, DCP (South), said: “We received orders from the court under Section 156 (3) CrPc and we have complied with it.”
