Bengaluru, May 20: A 23-year-old student at a private coaching academy here allegedly died by suicide due to mental harassment and humiliation in front of his class over poor academic performance, police said on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Chunnu Kumar, a native of Bereva village in Bihar’s East Champaran district, they said.
Kumar was found hanging from a window at the academy’s hostel on May 18 by his roommate, police said.
Following a complaint by Kumar’s father, a case has been registered at Kothanur Police Station under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against academy staff, a senior police officer said.
According to the FIR, Kumar had joined the banking coaching programme at the private academy in March.
On May 18, Kumar’s father received a phone call from the hostel in charge informing him that his son had died by suicide and asking him to come immediately.
The next day, when he arrived at the academy with his family and spoke to Kumar’s friends, they told him that Kumar had repeatedly said the academy management, Head of Department, and Programme Head were mentally harassing him, the complainant stated.
The complainant said Kumar’s friends further stated that, after he failed in some subjects, he was allegedly called into a classroom and humiliated in front of others.
“They allegedly told him that he was incapable in every respect, assigned him excessive project work, used abusive language in front of others, insulted him, and subjected him to mental harassment,” the FIR stated.
The complainant further claimed that Kumar’s friends had personally witnessed the alleged behaviour and that Kumar had expressed distress over it.
He also spoke to Kumar’s roommate, who said Kumar had repeatedly shared that he was feeling depressed due to the humiliation and mental pressure.
“His roommate said he had consoled him, telling him everything would be alright and asking him to stay strong,” Kumar’s father said.
“All allegations are being looked into, and further investigation is underway,” police added. (PTI)
