Sharda University suicide sparks protest; family alleges harassment, police lathi-charge
text_fieldsGreater Noida: The suicide of a 21-year-old second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student at Sharda University has sparked massive outrage, with the victim’s family and fellow students protesting on campus and accusing faculty members of harassment. The incident occurred late Friday night at the girls' hostel in Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park area.
The student was found hanging in her hostel room, and a suicide note recovered from the scene alleged mental harassment by a male and a female faculty member from the dental department. Police have arrested both faculty members named in the note.
Protests erupted on campus on Saturday, with students and the family demanding justice and strict action against those named. Emotions ran high, and tensions escalated when protesters alleged that police used lathi-charge to disperse the gathering, injuring several individuals, including family members.
Speaking to the media, the student's mother alleged that her daughter had been under severe mental pressure due to threats from teachers over exam-related approvals. “The teachers threatened to fail them (students) by withholding their signatures on exam assignments. She was forced into taking this step. We were not even informed about her death. We demand justice,” she said. She also claimed that police personnel assaulted her husband, son, and other relatives during the protest.
Family members further accused the university of trying to suppress the incident. The student's cousin told IANS that the family received the information only at 9:30 P.M. and had to call the police themselves at 10:42 P.M. "The university took her to the hospital without informing the police or us. How can they do that? We want justice, and instead the police are lathi-charging us. The ADCP was present when this happened,” said the student’s cousin.
Relatives said no university official came forward to explain the incident, calling it a clear case of institutional failure. “This university has no accountability. We demand not just action against the faculty but also against the institution,” said a family member, warning that they would not allow the university to function if their demands were not met.
Several procedural lapses have also been alleged, with the family claiming that the body was removed without police knowledge and key steps were carried out solely by the university.
Appealing directly to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the family has demanded stringent action against the university administration and those responsible.
Police said an investigation is ongoing, and further details will be revealed in due course.