Students on the edge: 3 deaths in 24 hours

16-yr-old, engg student end life; one case of likely drug overdose

Students on the edge: 3 deaths in 24 hours

16-yr-old, engg student end life; one case of likely drug overdose

In a span of 24 hours, three students have committed suicide in the city.

A 16-year-old girl from Yerawada allegedly immolated herself because her SSC paper was tough, while the reason for suicide by two young men pursuing professional courses is still not known.

A second-year student of MIMER Medical College Abhishek Adityakumar Panda (19) was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence in Talegaon-Dabhade on Tuesday afternoon. The police said at the time of his death Panda was attired in a woman's dress. Police have also recovered whitener and beer bottles.
His roommate Raju Panda was a whitener addict.

"His viscera samples have been preserved. We however suspect the he must have died because of drug overdose," said Police Inspector Sanjay Nikam.

Mukta Puntambekar, deputy director of Muktangan Mitra, said: "Death due to whitener overdose is a rare thing.
That the dead student was clad in woman's clothes does not necessarily mean that identity crisis might have forced him to addiction. Addicts give several excuses for addiction. In this case it could be two parallel things."

Abhishek's friend Raju found him in an unconscious state at his apartment in Building B, Swapna Nagari Complex around 3 pm. He was shifted to Talegaon Dabhade General Hospital where he was declared dead.

Nikam said Panda's body was flown to his hometown in Orissa by his parents.

In another case, a third-year engineering student of MIIT Dipesh Pramod Gandhi (20) was found hanging in his fourth floor hostel room on BMCC Road.

"The reason behind his suicide is not known. We have recorded his friend's statement but nothing has come out so far," Police Sub-Inspector Harishchandra Nalawade said. "We are yet to record his relatives statement but we will wait for a day or two till they come out from their shock."u00a0

Dipesh's friends expressed a sense of shock as according to them he was good in studies and was an extrovert.
The Yerawada police are yet to record the statements of the parents of Sheetal Laxman Chikane who allegedly torched herself at her residence.

Chikane was allegedly disturbed after she returned home from the board examination. Her parents said she was upset because the paper was tough for her. A case of accidental death has been registered.

"The locals heard her screams and rushed inside," PSI Mane said. "The incident took place when Chikane's brother and mother had stepped out for work and her father was out of station."

Expert view
Sandy Dias Andrade, a psychologist attached to Connecting India, which runs a suicide helpline, said suicide cases among youngsters were rising. Suicide is just the triggering point but before that there is a series of internal turmoil. Suicide is a plea for help."