Tragic Suicide at BITS Pilani Goa Campus Marks Sixth Incident, Female Student Found Dead
In a deeply distressing development, the BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa campus has witnessed its sixth case of suicide, with a 20-year-old woman student found dead in her hostel room late on Sunday evening. The incident has sent shockwaves through the academic community, raising serious concerns about student mental health and campus safety protocols.
Details of the Incident and Victim Profile
The deceased, identified as Vaishnavi, hailed from Bengaluru and was pursuing her course in electronics and communication engineering at the prestigious institution. According to Vasco sub-division SP Gurudas Kadam, the incident likely occurred on Sunday afternoon, but students and campus management only became aware of it later in the evening.
This tragic event marks the first recorded case of a suicide by a woman student at the BITS Pilani Goa campus, adding a particularly somber dimension to the ongoing pattern of such incidents. The public relations officer at the campus, Arjun Halarnkar, formally informed the Verna police station about the death around 10pm after the student failed to respond to her colleagues.
Police Response and Investigation Procedures
SP Gurudas Kadam provided detailed insights into the police response. The student was occupying a room on the hostel's third floor, and since the door was latched from inside, authorities were forced to break it open to access the room.
Following standard procedures, police conducted a panchnama at the scene of the unnatural death along with an inquest panchanama. The woman's body was subsequently transported to the South Goa district hospital in Margao for further medico-legal formalities. A case of unnatural death has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), reflecting the seriousness with which authorities are treating this matter.
Postmortem Findings and Ongoing Investigation
The postmortem report has revealed that the woman died due to "the constriction of neck by ligature material", confirming the manner of death. Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy is being conducted by PI Anand Shirodkar, who will examine all potential factors that may have contributed to this devastating outcome.
This incident represents the sixth suicide at the BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa campus, highlighting an alarming pattern that demands urgent attention from educational authorities, mental health professionals, and policymakers. The recurring nature of these tragedies underscores the critical need for enhanced counseling services, better support systems, and proactive intervention strategies within higher education institutions across India.
