• Source:JND
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A 22-year-old Phd student at IIT Kanpur was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday. She was found hanging from a ceiling hook in an apparent suicide case, news agency PTI reported, citing police sources. This is the fourth such case at IIT Kanpur in the last 12 months.  Pragati Kharya, the deceased, was pursuing a doctorate in Earth Sciences and was a resident of Sanigawan.

The police informed that the rope that she used in the alleged suicide was ordered online, and the police have taken into custody the packet in which it was delivered.

The incident came to light after her batchmates informed the police as the deceased did not respond to any of their calls when the classes started on Thursday.

The police confirmed that they had received a letter in which she did not hold anyone accountable for the alleged suicide. The deceased body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and Kharya's family members have arrived on campus. 

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"The police received information about a suicide by a PhD student at around 12 pm today," Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Rajesh Kumar Singh told PTI.

Assistant CP (Kalyanpur) Abhishek Pandey said, "After getting information about the suicide police rushed there and found the door of Pragati's room was locked from inside."

"After breaking open the door, they found the woman's body hanging from the ceiling fan," he added.

IIT Kanpur also expressed condolences for Kharya's untimely death and said in an official statement, "A police forensic team has visited the campus to investigate the circumstances of the death. The institute is awaiting the results of the police investigation to determine the cause. With Pragati Kharya's passing, the institute has lost a promising young researcher. The institute extends its deepest condolences and prays for strength and comfort to her family and friends in this time of great loss".

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A Look At Similar Cases Of IIT Kanpur In Recent Past
Priyanka Jaiswal, a 29-year-old PhD student in chemical engineering, allegedly ended her life in her hostel room on January 18.

On January 11, M Tech second-year student Vikas Kumar Meena allegedly hanged himself in his hostel room as he was temporarily stopped from attending the classes.

Postdoctoral researcher Pallavi Chilka, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her hostel room on December 19, 2023.