Representative image of a dead body.
Credit: iStock Photo
Mangaluru: A 22-year-old woman from Belthangady was found dead on the campus of a private university in Punjab's Phagwara.
After receiving information about the incident, parents of the victim woman, identified as Akanksha, left for Punjab on Sunday morning.
It is said that Akanksha had previously completed her degree in aerospace engineering from the same university and was working at a private firm in Delhi. On May 16, she travelled from Delhi to Punjab to collect her graduation certificate. Due to a delay in the certificate distribution at the university, she was informed that she would need to wait an additional day. Akanksha had been regularly updating her parents-- Surendra, a contractor and mother Sindhudevi--about her travels.
However, on May 17 at around 4.30 pm, Punjab Police informed the family that Akanksha had allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the fourth floor of the university building.
The family has expressed doubt over suicide claim as she had not shown any signs of depression. Akanksha's friends also described her as a cheerful and confident person.
Akanksha’s family has appealed to both the Karnataka and Punjab governments to conduct a fair, and transparent investigation into the incident.
On May 18, 2025, Akanksha’s parents arrived in Punjab. Her parents also met MLA Harish Poonja and also spoke to Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta. Once the family reaches the concerned police station, the formalities will be completed and the body will be released.