Medical student ends life in Tamil Nadu; accuses professor of sexual harassment, mental abuse in note

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Kanniyakumari SP Hari Kiran Prasad said they have registered a case under section 306 (Abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and they are carrying out a further inquiry.

The police said their initial investigation showed the student had taken the extreme step on Thursday night because of mental stress.

“The resident doctors stay in separate rooms. On Friday morning, when she didn’t attend a class, the college asked her friends to look out for her. They tried calling her and since there was no response, they tried to break open the door. We rushed to the spot upon receiving the information,” an investigation officer told indianexpress.com.

The police team reached the hostel and sent her body to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination.

In her note, the student has accused a professor attached to the anaesthesia department of sexually harassing her and subjecting her to mental abuse. She has also accused two seniors, including a woman doctor, of exhibiting toxic behaviour and subjecting her to mental abuse.

“Sorry Appa, I love you the most… Depressed people can also be seen as happy. Be Kind. Don’t Judge. Be there for them,” the note, purportedly written by the deceased, said.

Former Tamil Nadu director general of police and former commissioner of Tambaram police M Ravi took to X on Sunday. He noted the alleged suicide note of the girl should be investigated. “Steps to be taken to prevent such alleged harassment,” he wrote.