Tragic Suicide of Medical Student in Nanded Sparks Legal Action Against Hostel Owner
In a deeply distressing incident from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a 25-year-old second-year BHMS student has allegedly died by suicide after facing persistent pressure to clear several months of outstanding hostel fees. The Nanded Rural police have registered a case against the hostel owner, charging him with abetment to suicide and under the stringent provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police Investigation Underway as Suspect Evades Capture
Nanded Superintendent of Police Abinash Kumar confirmed the registration of the case, stating, "We have registered a case and the matter is being investigated. The teams are looking for the suspect." The suspect, identified as a 50-year-old individual who serves as the state secretary of a political party, operates a girls' hostel from his residence in the Hudco area of Nanded. This facility accommodates approximately 40 female students.
The legal charges against him include sections 108 and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside relevant clauses of the SC/ST Act. Authorities are actively pursuing him following the tragic event.
Victim's Background and Family's Anguish
The deceased, Akanksha Gaikwad, was a dedicated student at the Padmashri Shamraoji Kadam Homoeopathic Medical College in Hudco. Hailing from a modest background, she was the only daughter of brick kiln workers Munjajirao Gaikwad (47) and his wife. Residing at Wajegaon in Nanded taluka, which is considerably distant from her college, Akanksha had been staying at the private hostel for about a year to facilitate her studies.
According to the FIR lodged by her father, Akanksha paid a monthly rent of Rs 2,500. However, she had accumulated unpaid hostel fees for the past eight to ten months. Munjajirao Gaikwad detailed in his complaint that his daughter had repeatedly informed him about the hostel owner's relentless pressure and harassment to clear the outstanding dues.
Discovery of the Tragedy and Suspicious Circumstances
The heartbreaking incident unfolded on Friday around 1:26 PM when Gaikwad received a phone call from a relative alerting him that Akanksha had hanged herself in her hostel room. Rushing to the scene with his wife, they found their daughter's body suspended from a ceiling fan with a scarf in a second-floor room of the building.
Personnel from the Nanded Rural police station were already present at the location. The body was subsequently transported to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Vishnupuri for a postmortem examination.
In his formal complaint, the grieving father expressed profound suspicion regarding the circumstances of his daughter's death. He emphasized that Akanksha was a resilient and determined individual, committed to pursuing her education despite financial hardships, and was unlikely to take such an extreme step voluntarily.
Allegations of Caste-Based Harassment
Munjajirao Gaikwad further alleged that the hostel owner continued to harass his daughter over the pending fees despite being aware that she belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. This alleged caste-based pressure is cited as a driving factor that pushed Akanksha to the brink, leading to the inclusion of the SC/ST Act provisions in the case.
The police have registered the case and launched a comprehensive investigation to uncover the full details and ensure justice is served. This incident highlights critical issues surrounding student welfare, financial pressures in educational settings, and the enforcement of laws designed to protect marginalized communities.
