FIR against 3 students after classmate dies by suicide

Bengaluru: The Madanayakanahalli police have registered an FIR against three students after their classmate died by suicide, police officials said on Tuesday.

The police registered the case under BNS Section 108 (abetment of suicide) against Chiranth, Vikas Gowda and Ameen, who were students of a private university in Bengaluru North taluk.

The deceased Arun C (22), originally from Hassan, was studying architecture at the college and had just written his eighth semester examinations. Arun was found hanging at his home on July 11.

Sources said that Arun’s parents were labourers and he had secured a seat at the college based on his excellent academic performance.

Initially, based on the parents’ statements, the police registered an unnatural death report (UDR). Parents later found that before his death, Arun had recorded a video and posted it on his classroom’s WhatsApp group called Architecture Nashaa.

After finishing the last rites, they approached the police on July 21 and registered the FIR. 

According to the FIR, the parents learnt that the three students named in the FIR used to send “bad messages” about Arun in the group and disrespected and embarrassed him. Two of Arun’s friends had conveyed this to his parents, the FIR noted.

The parents alleged this was going on since last year and “from the messages, the trio egged on Arun to take the extreme step”.

On July 11, Arun shared the video in his group, claiming that he was hurt and had been disrespected before he died by suicide.

The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has alleged ragging behind the incident and demanded an impartial investigation. In a statement released to the media, the student organisation expressed anguish about the incident and stated, “The student reportedly died by suicide due to ragging. The deceased student was the son of daily wage workers from Hassan. Action needs to be initiated against the management of the college concerned for their failure to curb ragging.”

AIDSO said incidents of ragging continue unabated “due to indifference and irresponsible attitude of colleges” despite directives from the Supreme Court, the UGC and All India Council for Technical Education.