MBBS student of Hi Tech Medical College Commits suicide, family says college harassed him for money

Bhubaneshwar: Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar is entangled in controversy with the death of Nihar Ranjan Rout, a resident of Soro, Balasore and a 3rd-year MBBS student of the institution. Found hanging from the ceiling off his room on Saturday, his parents allege that he had been pressurized by the college to pay money to compensate for the poor marks he had obtained in the recently concluded exams. They allege him to have been murdered by the college authorities.

"We had received a letter from the college to pay money. They used to torture Nihar and also threatened him that they would not allow him to appear in the examination,' alleged Nihar's uncle to Odisha .tv. The family had rushed to the hostel on receiving information of his suicide from his friends and discovered him hanging from the ceiling of his room at 10.30PM. A complaint in the Mancheswar police station has been lodged by them.

The college authorities, however, have denied the family's levelled allegations .have refuted the allegations levelled by Nihar's family.

Under pressure from the media, Hi-tech Medical College and Hospital CEO, Bhisma Rath stated, "Poor results and attendance could be the possible reasons behind Nihar Ranjan Rout committing suicide. This apart, college fees amounting to Rs 8 lakh was pending against him and we had informed his family about this. It might be due to the pressure of the family that he took such a step."

Meanwhile, the body of the boy has been sent for a postmortem by the police; while the investigation in connection with the incident continues, sources added.

Earlier this month, a BSc. Nursing girl in an attempt to take her life had attempted suicide by jumping off the three-storey hostel building of the college. Her parents had also reported the incident to the Mancheswar police station, blaming the college authorities for the suicide attempt.