Bengaluru Student Dies by Suicide After Being Caught With Phone During Exam; Family Alleges Harassment
In a tragic incident that occurred on July 17, a 19-year-old student named Aditya Prabhu allegedly jumped to his death from the rooftop of PES University during semester exams. The incident sparked a protest led by the student's parents and a group of fellow students on Monday. The parents firmly asserted that their son was driven to take this extreme step due to what they described as "harassment" by the college staff.
Aditya's mother created an Instagram page titled 'Justice for Aditya Prabhu,' seeking justice for her son. According to her, Aditya had called her from college after being caught with a mobile phone during the examination. He claimed to have forgotten to remove the phone from his pocket before the exam started. The mother further alleged that her son had been subjected to ongoing harassment by the college authorities and staff.
To their dismay, the college authorities initially denied that the body found on the university premises belonged to their student. They wrongly asserted that it was the body of an unrelated individual who had wandered onto the campus. This raised serious concerns and added to the distress of the grieving family.
The police, in their investigation, found fault with the college officials for failing to adequately supervise Aditya after confiscating his mobile phone. This negligence has only deepened the tragedy and prompted demands for accountability.
In response to media reports and public outcry, the University issued a statement expressing cooperation with the ongoing investigation and promising to be more sensitive to the needs of its students. The University acknowledged the pain caused to the parents and mourned the loss of a promising young student.
Aditya's father demanded strict action against the officials responsible for his son's distressing ordeal. He emphasized that no student should ever be subjected to such treatment and called for the suspension of those involved.
The boy's mother expressed her belief that the college's statement was a mere response to the pressure generated by the social media campaign highlighting the incident.
In light of this heartbreaking event, helplines have been provided for anyone in need of assistance. These helplines aim to offer support and solace during challenging times.
If you or someone you know requires help, please consider reaching out to one of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) at 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) at 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) at 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) at 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) at 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) at 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) at 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) at 040-66202000, and Lifeline (Kolkata) at 033-64643267.