Two Ashoka University students found dead on campus, police launch probe

Two undergraduate students of Ashoka University in Haryana’s Sonipat were found dead on Friday night in apparently unrelated incidents, the university said in a statement issued on Saturday.

A 21-year-old student from Bengaluru allegedly jumped to his death on Friday night from the tenth floor of a hostel building on campus. According to media reports, an alleged suicide note was recovered from his room, as per police sources.

A few hours later, the body of a 19-year-old student from Telangana, who is suspected to have died from heart failure, was found near the university gate. Police said both were taken to hospital for postmortem.

A probe has been launched into the deaths, and their cause can only be determined following the postmortem, the sources said. Quoting Sonipat deputy commissioner of police (crime) Narender Kadiyan, the Hindustan Times reported, “The note does not provide specific details,” Kadiyan said. “We are not certain whether it is a case of suicide or murder. The post-mortem will give clarity on the cause of death."

According to an email sent to students and alumni from Ashoka University vice-chancellor Somak Raychaudhury’s office, both students were examined by the on duty doctor in the campus infirmary before being transported to the nearest hospital by the university’s own ambulance, where they were pronounced dead. The parents of both students were informed of the twin tragedy by university officials early on Saturday.

“Their parents have been informed of the tragic development… (The two students) were bright students with promising futures ahead of them. They will be remembered by all as gifted students whose untimely passing away has left the Ashoka community devastated,” the vice-chancellor’s email stated.

The statement added that the university was cooperating “fully with local authorities for the requisite investigation”.