TNN | Jul 14, 2016, 02.13 AM IST
HIGHLIGHTS
- IIT-Madras campus was shaken on Wednesday by the news of two suicides within a span of an hour
- First one was an assistant professor's wife and the 2nd a post-doctoral research scholar
- Both committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling
Chennai: The IIT-Madras campus was shaken on Wednesday evening by the news of two suicides within a span of an hour, in unrelated incidents. The first one was an assistant professor's wife. the second a post-doctoral research scholar.
Police said physics assistant professor Ganeshan's wife Vijayalakshmi, 47, was found hanging inside her quarters around 3pm. An hour later, P Maheshwari, 34, a post-doctoral research scholar was found dead hanging in Sabarmathi hostel.
Maheswari's friends, after searching for her for a while, peeped into the hostel room and found her hanging from the ceiling. IIT officials informed the Kotturpuram police who reached the hostel and lowered the body. Police said there was no suicide note, and the reason was not known immediately. Police, after conducting inquiries with her friends, said she was upset that her husband Pandiarajan was not visiting her in the hostel. "Her friends said she appeared to be depressed and lonely," a policeman said.
The campus was already discussing another suicide, that of Vijayalakshmi, a native of Trichy. She too was found hanging. The couple had two children. After making inquiries, police said the assistant professor's wife was worried about the health condition of her elder son. "We are told that she had attempted suicide earlier," a policeman said. The incident came to light when her husband came home in the evening.
Both the bodies have been sent for postmortem at Government Royapettah Hospital. Kotturpuram police have registered cases under CrPc 174 (unnatural death) and are investigating.
Top Comment
Time and again these suicidal deaths prove that Education gives nothing and if literates also do the same thing instead of sharing their personal grievances or problems faced by them to the near and dear who might have given suggestions and counseling and now because of their act the families are the sufferers.
Sankaran Krishnan
Meanwhile in a press statement the IIT Madras that the institute is deeply saddened by the death of a post-doctoral research scholar in the campus. The scholar's family has been informed.The institute is taking necessary action and is extending full cooperation to the civil authorities.
"The institute extends its deep felt condolences to the family and the near and dear ones of the scholar for the unfortunate, untimely and devastating loss," the statement said.
