Ashoka University student deaths: NCPCR seeks report from top cop, govt three months on

A 21-year-old student from Bengaluru allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the 10th floor of a hostel building on campus. A few hours later, the body of a 19-year-old student from Telangana was found near the university gate. Police had said the student from Telangana was suspected to have died of heart failure, even as postmortem reports were awaited at the time.

“The complainant underscored a troubling lack of transparency surrounding the incidents, including the non-disclosure of the contents of the alleged suicide note. Furthermore, there were critical unanswered questions related to the university’s mental health support systems, safety protocols, and the overall campus environment,” the NCPCR notice stated.

Saying the matter was of “cognizable nature”, the Commission directed the Education Secretary and DGP to “… to get the allegations made in the complaint inquired into and to submit an action taken report on or before” June 7. It also asked for several documents, including post-mortem reports and police statements.

When contacted by The Indian Express, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said he did not recall who the complainant was and did not elaborate on the reasons for writing this letter. “I don’t remember who the complainant is,” he said, when asked why the Commission took up the issue nearly three months after the deaths.

Officials at Ashoka University declined to comment on the matter when contacted.