‘Depressed’ IIT-Kharagpur boy ends life on railway tracks - TNN

‘Depressed’ IIT-Kharagpur boy ends life on railway tracks

TNN | Jan 17, 2017, 05.38 AM IST

KHARAGPUR/KOLKATA: A third-year civil engineering student of the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur jumped in front of a train between Jakpur and Madpur, around 10km from the campus, on Sunday morning. It is believed that Lokesh Meena, the deceased, had health issues and was suffering from depression. 

Lokesh, 20, went missing from Radha Krishnan Hall, the campus hostel where he stayed, on Sunday morning. His friends launched a frantic search but failed to track him down. The hostel warden was informed and a complaint was lodged at Hijli police outpost. Police finally found the body on the tracks. Officials from the institure reached the Kharagpur sub-divisional hospital and identified the body. He was a resident of Digheria village, which is in Rajasthan's Dhasa district. 

After being informed by IIT officials, Lokesh's father Rammpal reached the campus on Monday. The body was handed over to him after the autopsy. 

"The accident took place around 8am on Sunday. "We got an information around 9.30. A loco engine which was moving on the middle line mowed Lokesh down as he jumped in front of it. The engine driver informed the railway staff at Jakpur station," said a senior Kharagpur GRP official.

A police team that interrogated friends of Lokesh were got to know that he was suffering from anxiety and depression. "We have been told that Lokesh was detected with tuberculosis and also had other health issues. We have also got information that he had spoken to someone at length just before committing suicide. We are now trying to speak to his father. We are trying to find out if any personal loss or family affair was the trigger for Lokesh to end his life," added an invesigating officer. 

Latest Comment

VERY BAD NEWS, DEPRESSION IS SPREADING, MUST BE CONTROLLED.

Azad Hind

"Kharagpur town police station has ended an investigation. The GRP is conducting a separate inquiry," said SP Bharati Ghosh.

According to IIT-Kharagpur director Partha Pratim Chakrabarty, it was a very sad day for the institute. "Lokesh was a good student and didn't have any issues related to studies. The friends never told us about his depression or anxiety. We have a counselling centre at IIT-Kharagpur. The centre has intervened many a times and ensured that students get back to their usual self, leaving all anxiety behind. Unfortunately, they couldn't get time to meet Lokesh," added the director.

IIT-Kharagpur student kills self on railway tracks - TNN

IIT-Kharagpur student kills self on railway tracks

Somdatta Basu & Sujoy Khanra | TNN | Updated: Jan 17, 2017, 08.39 AM IST

HIGHLIGHTS

• Lokesh Meena, a 3rd year student at IIT-Kharagpur committed suicide on Sunday
• According to Lokesh's friends he was suffering from anxiety and depression
• According to police, Lokesh was suffering from Tuberculosis and also had other health issues

A 3rd year civil engineering student at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Lokesh Meena aged 20 years committed suicide for no apparent reason by walking 20 kilometers from the campus and throwing himself before a moving train. Meena was missing from Radha Krishnan Hall since Sunday morning. After the matter was reported to the hostel warden in the evening by his friends a search ensued. 

Since morning however, friends of Meena had tried to locate him at various classrooms, hostels and even canteens. But after failing to find him out, the matter was reported to the warden. Immediately a complaint was lodged at Hijli police outpost. A team of team officials started a search operation. Around evening a body was recovered from the railway tracks between Jakpur and Madpur. 

The institute officials along with police reached the Kharagpur sub-divisional hospital and identified the body of Lokesh. The student was a resident of Dhasa district in Rajasthan, Digheria village. 

Father of Lokesh - Rammpal Meena was informed by the IIT officials. He took a flight to Kolkata and reached the campus on Monday morning. He identified his son. A post mortem was conducted on the body which was later handed over to the family. 

Kharagpur GRP informed that the incident had taken place on Sunday around 8am. "We got an information around 9:30. A loco engine which was moving on the middle line mowed him down as Lokesh jumped before the moving train. The engine driver informed the railway staff at Jakpur station. We then rushed to the spot," said a senior GRP official.

A police team who interrogated friends of Lokesh were informed that the student was suffering from anxiety and depression. "We have been told that Lokesh was detected with Tuberculosis and also had other health issues. We have also got the information that the student had spoken to someone at length just before committing suicide. We are now trying to speak to his father who has already arrived in the Kharagpur campus. Now we are trying to find out if any personal loss or family affair was the triggering point for Lokesh to end his life," added another senior police official.

Latest Comment

Sad .Parents should regularly talk to their child

And specially in such case friends should also help and definitely should . Inform such issue to parents as well as teachers

SAMYAK JAIN

SP Bharati Ghosh said that a student had committed suicide. "The local Kharagpur town police station has ended an investigation. The GRP is also conducting a separate inquiry," added SP Ghosh.

Director of IIT-Kharagpur, Partha Pratim Chakraorty said it was a very sad day for the institute. "Lokesh was a good student and didn't have any issue related to academics. Also the friends didn't inform us about any apparent depression or signs of anxiety," said Chakraborty. "We have a counselling centre at IIT-Kharagpur which is a first of its kind among the higher education institutes. The centre has intervened many a times and ensured that students get back to their usual self, leaving all anxiety behind. Unfortunately in this case they couldn't get time to meet Lokesh," added the director.