Girl found dead in college toilet, suicide suspected

New Delhi: An 18-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide in the washroom of a Delhi University college on Wednesday. According to the police, the girl, a second year student of Bharati College in west Delhi’s Janakpuri, was found inside the institute’s washroom by the college staff.

“She was found by the college staff and taken to a hospital but she was declared dead on arrival by doctors,” said Vijay Kumar, DCP (west). She consumed pesticide in the college toilet. No suicide note was found, the police added.

“I don’t know why would she take this extreme step. On Tuesday, I accompanied her to the bus stop. On the way, we met with a small accident but despite that she didn’t want to miss the first lecture of third semester. She never ever showed any sign of tension,” said the deceased’s father Loknath.

Further, it was revealed that several girls saw her crying in the college.

The police said that she had come with the intention to commit suicide as the pesticide bottle was found from her bag along with a paper cutter.

The college administration said that the building in which the incident happened does not have CCTV cameras and it would be difficult to track the activities and to find if there was some one else present with her.

The police is investigating the matter and might interrogate her family and friends.

The Delhi University Students’ Union (Dusu), meanwhile, requested the university authorities to set up a “wellness cell” in all colleges of the varsity.

In a letter to the vice-chancellor, Dusu secretary Mahamedhaa Nagar expressed concern about how there was lack of resources for students to seek help in the country.

“Students are unable to manage their stress. They do not have a place to vent their thoughts either at home or at school or college. Many battle an identity crisis. Uncertain about their future, they begin to isolate themselves and eventually slip into depression,” she said in her letter.

She proposed setting up a “wellness cell” in all colleges for students to seek help.

D13