A first-year B.Tech student was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a private engineering college in Bhubaneswar late Saturday night, triggering concern and raising questions over campus safety.
The deceased has been identified as Biswas Swain, a hostel inmate of Silicon Institute of Technology. According to preliminary reports, the incident is suspected to be a case of suicide, though the exact cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed.
Police from Infocity Police Station reached the campus soon after receiving information and have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Biswas, who hailed from Baripada, was initially rushed to a private hospital in Chandrasekharpur, where doctors declared him dead.
Family Raises Allegations of Harassment
The student’s family has alleged mental harassment by college authorities, questioning the sequence of events leading up to the incident. According to his father, Biswas had spoken to the family around 10 pm on Saturday night.
Earlier, at approximately 9:36 pm, the family reportedly received a message from the college stating that the student was not present in the hostel. When contacted, Biswas told them he had been marked absent as he had fallen asleep in his room.
However, within a short span of time, the family was informed that he had died. The college later stated that the student died by suicide around 11 pm.
Questions Over Timeline and Monitoring
Raising serious concerns, the father questioned how such a tragic incident could occur within such a brief time frame and whether adequate monitoring systems were in place within the hostel premises.
“How could such an incident happen within an hour, and why was there no monitoring?” he asked, alleging negligence on the part of the institution.
Investigation Underway
Police have initiated a detailed investigation to verify the claims, examine the timeline, and determine whether any external factors contributed to the death. Statements from college authorities, hostel staff, and students are expected to be recorded as part of the probe.
Authorities have urged restraint and assured that all angles, including allegations made by the family, will be thoroughly examined.
