Visva-Bharati school Class 12 student found dead in hostel; Family stage protest

Stating that the victim was not suffering from depression, the father of the deceased alleged that the university was trying to “hush up the matter”.

Patha Bhavana, a school under Visva-Bharati University is facing a massive protest after a Class 12 student was found dead in his hostel room in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Thursday. The incident triggering protests by his family and a section of students. According to media reports, a Visva-Bharati official said the student, hailing from Nanur in the same district, was found lying motionless in his hostel room and was taken to Pearson Memorial Hospital at Santiniketan where the doctors declared him dead.

Afterward, the body was then sent to Bolpur sub-divisional hospital for post-mortem examination. A complaint has been filed by the 17-year-old student's father at Santiniketan Police Station alleging there was an attempt by the university to suppress facts since his son was murdered and so the body was hurriedly taken from Pearson Memorial Hospital to another hospital.

Complaint against Visva-Bharati School

“We have received the complaint and are awaiting the post-mortem report,” a police officer said. The Visva-Bharati authorities have launched an inquiry to know the circumstances behind the death, the official added.

Stating that the victim was not suffering from depression, the father of the deceased alleged that the university was trying to “hush up the matter”. The statement mounted tension on the campus as the father said it was not a death by suicide.

The student's father also tried to meet the Vice-Chancellor Professor Bidyut Chakraborty at his residence but could not meet him.

Incident triggered protests on the campus

Demanding an explanation of the circumstances behind the student's death, the SFI held a sit-in near the residence of the VC on Thursday afternoon.

"We will gherao the residence of VC if the mystery behind the murder is not unravelled," SFI university unit leader Somnath Sow said.

A district police officer confirmed the filing of complaints. He further informed that an investigation is on.

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