TNN | Jun 4, 2015, 01.30AM IST
MUMBAI: Barely a month after a student committed suicide at IIT-Bombay, in May, another one, this time a post-graduate student, attempted suicide at the premier institute in Powai on Monday. Though the student is out of danger, hospital sources said he was still under observation as he had suffered head injuries. The student was not undergoing counselling and academics may not be the problem in this case, claimed the institute. Police said the student tried to kill himself in three ways.
The PhD student from the earth sciences department initially tried to end his life by hanging. But he fell and suffered head injuries. He then slit his left hand and even consumed some pills. Powai police are awaiting the report to know the nature of the pills he consumed. Before taking the extreme step, according to the police, the student had written two suicide notes, one addressed to his parents and another to the police.
The note was written in Hindi and English. "In the note addressed to his parents, written mostly in Hindi, he told his mother not to worry about his act. He wrote that he was depressed with the routine chores of life and decided to take the extreme step after deep thought," said a police officer.
The second note, addressed to the police, asked them to treat the case as one of suicide. Powai police senior inspector Y L Jadhav confirmed that two suicide notes recovered from his hostel room. "The note addressed to us said he was taking the decision to end his life on his own and no one should be held responsible. It said there was no need for the cops to probe the matter. The student is undergoing treatment at Hiranandani hospital," said Jadhav.
Rashmi Kumar, the institute's spokesperson, said the student's brother has arrived from his hometown in Bihar. "Institute officials have been visiting him in hospital and we will extend counselling support too. He is stable now," she said. The student was initially taken to IIT hospital but had to be shifted to Hiranandani as he suffered head injuries. While the institute offers counselling to all students, TOI earlier reported that less than 2% students actually avail of it.
The CEO of Powai's LH Hiranandani Hospital, Dr Sujit Chaterjee, confirmed that the student was under their care. "He is doing fine now," he said refusing to divulge any more information about the student's health condition. Sources told TOI that he was in the ICU for better monitoring.
On May 2, Jitesh Sharma, a third-year chemical engineering student allegedly committed suicide by consuming poisonous chemicals. He was found dead on the terrace of one of the hostels. In September last year, 23-year-old Aniket Ambhore, also fell to his death from the terrace of one of the hostels.
