Protests broke out on Monday after a student committed suicide by jumping from the seventh floor of Amrita college of engineering in Bengaluru, allegedly after school authorities harassed him.
Harsha, who was a final year engineering student had alleged harassment after the college authorities threatened to suspend him, reported news magazine India Today.
Before the police reached the spot the college authorities had moved his body and wiped the blood.
A report by Indian website thenewsminute.com, students protested around the college and demanded justice for Harsha. Some were seated on the cemented and some were standing surrounding the same area. There was a large number of police personnel inside the campus as well, even though the situation remained largely peaceful.
According to students at the campus, the college’s disciplinary action committee wanted Harsha to 'confess' over his involvement in an incident of vandalism that took place in the college around the end of last month. However, another student had come forward to confess, apparently telling the committee that Harsha was not involved.
The students added that 15 students across batches were rusticated and another 45 were suspended for the same act, according to The News Minute’s report.
The incident of vandalism included breaking of windscreens and windows of six college-owned buses. Lack of decent food and sufficient water at the hostel allegedly angered students and led them to carry out the act.
The police have booked a case against the principal and the college authorities and an investigation is underway.
Tweeps react
Social media users shared pictures and videos online and demanded justice for the student.
Twitter user @rakeshprakash1 shared a clip of the protests and wrote: #Bengaluru: A final year engineering ends life by jumping off the 7th floor of Amrita School of Engineering in Kasavanahalli. Fellow students allege harassment & stage protest, cops rush to the college."
Some tweeted at news outlets to cover the incident. Tweep @PriyaKeerthana2 posted: "@the_hindu A student committed suicide in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru. Stray use of power by the institute led to this horrific incident. We want justice and we need your help to expose this dark incident. #justiceneeded."
