Day after suicide by student, PEC plans sensitisation drive

A day after a student allegedly died by suicide at the campus, Punjab Engineering College (PEC) on Thursday decided to organise sensitisation sessions at all hostels, besides starting interactions with students on various platforms.

On Wednesday, a 19-year-old BTech student died after consuming a poisonous substance, which he had ordered online and got it delivered at the campus.

In a note, he mentioned that he had failed to tackle depression and anxiety. After the incident, the police took possession of the student’s mobile phone and other belongings.

Sources claimed that the student, who hailed from a remote area in Uttar Pradesh, was under depression due to some family dispute.

The student’s father and uncle reached the campus and interacted with the faculty. The family members, who were accompanied by the police, also visited the victim’s hostel room and talked to his friends. Earlier in the day, PEC authorities organised a prayer meeting.

“This is an unfortunate incident and we have decided to organise sensitisation sessions with students. The dean of the campus, along with other staff, will host these sessions on regular intervals. We already have two counsellors — a male and a female — who help students in need,” said Prof Rajesh Kumar Bhatia, Director, PEC.

“His father and maternal uncle reached the hospital to give consent for pos- mortem. The grieving father sought privacy,” said a faculty member.

The student had joined PEC last September and skipped semester examinations held in December. Meanwhile, the police are looking into matter of online delivery of the poisonous substance and have questioned his friends.

“We have earlier tried to restrict and check delivery through various platforms at the campus, but students had opposed the decision,” said a faculty member on the condition of anonymity.