Kurukshetra: A second-year student at National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra was found dead in her hostel room, marking the fourth suspected suicide reported on campus in the last two months and sparking fresh protests among students. The deceased, identified as Diksha Dubey from Bihar, was pursuing a BTech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
According to police officials, the incident came to light when the student did not respond to repeated calls from friends. Concerned classmates approached her hostel room, which was locked from the inside, and alerted authorities. Police and forensic teams later reached the spot and broke open the door, where she was found hanging from a ceiling fan. The body was subsequently sent to a local hospital for post-mortem examination, while officials said the exact cause behind the incident is yet to be established.
The latest case has intensified unrest on campus, with students gathering in large numbers to protest late into the night. Demonstrators expressed dissatisfaction with the response of hostel authorities and raised concerns over student welfare, alleging that existing support systems are inadequate to address growing mental health challenges.
This is the fourth such incident reported at the institute since February, following similar cases involving students from different states and academic years. The recurring nature of these loss has prompted students to question institutional mechanisms for counselling, grievance redressal, and academic pressure management.
In response to the protests, the institute administration said it has accepted several student demands aimed at reducing academic stress. Among the measures announced is a change in the re-examination system, allowing students to clear pending papers annually instead of the earlier semester-based approach. Officials also stated that efforts are underway to strengthen student support systems and improve grievance handling processes.
The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for stronger mental health support and proactive intervention mechanisms within educational institutions, as concerns continue to grow over student well-being on campuses across the country.
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