[NewIndPress] Student ends life, ragging suspected

Link to report

Thursday August 2 2007 13:36 IST

BARGARH: A student of Larambha College was found dead in his hostel room on Tuesday night.

Pratap Kishore Sa, a first year Plus-Two science student, ended his life by consuming pesticides allegedly because of ragging.

While his father Kunja Sa has claimed that Pratap could have died due to ragging, the college authorities refuted the charge. Pratap belonged to Nandanmal village in Sonepur district. Kunja went with his son to the college on July 24 before returning to his village.

On Tuesday, after attending a class in the morning, Pratap came back to his hostel. Later, he was found lying motionless by his room-mates. He was rushded to VSS Medical, Burla but was declared brought dead.

Pratap reportedly consumed pesticides. Maintaining that his son was innocent, Kunja said either ragging or some derogatory remarks might have forced him to end his life. He has lodged an FIR with the Godbhaga police outpost.

Principal of Larambha College Upendra Pradhan said it was a clear case of suicide and denied ragging or harassment. Police have, meanwhile, begun investigation.