PU dental institute to remain closed after student's suicide

Authorities at Panjab University (PU) Sunday announced that the Dr. Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital would remain closed Monday following the death of a second year student.

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student, Anukrita Tripathi was found dead in her house in Sector 32 Friday, having committed suicide after failing to clear some examinations. Police later found a suicide note in one of her books in which she had named senior faculty member Savita Prashar, an associate professor in the institute, as responsible for her death.

Prashar was booked on charges of abetment to suicide after the suicide note was found. However, no arrest had been made till Sunday evening. Anukrita was depressed for the past few days as she had failed to clear her examinations by six marks. She blamed Prashar for giving her six marks less.

"We have got some information that the victim was failed by the faculty member in one subject and she was under depression. We are investigating the issue," said Sector 34 station house officer Rajesh Shukla. A PU spokesman said that the dental institute would remain closed owing to the death of the student.

However, PU sources said that the authorities were worried of a backlash by students of the institute, their parents and even student organizations following the suicide. Parents of other students had landed at the institute complex Saturday and even blamed certain faculty members of targeting students and deliberately failing them in different subjects, especially in practical examinations.

IANS