IIMT University MBA student dies after hostel fall in Meerut; police probe underway

Meerut: A 23-year-old final-year MBA student died after falling from her hostel building at IIMT University in the Ganganagar area here on Wednesday morning, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide.

Circle officer (Sadar) Sudhir Kumar Singh said a preliminary probe pointed towards suicide, though the motive was yet to be ascertained. The deceased, Anu Gupta, a resident of Saharanpur, was pursuing an MBA and staying at the Sarojini Naidu Girls' Hostel on the university campus.

According to police, a member of the hostel's cleaning staff spotted Gupta's body lying in the lobby on Wednesday morning and alerted the college administration. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Police said the young woman had suffered severe facial injuries. She had recently returned to the hostel from her hometown in Saharanpur.

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Earlier in the day, Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Abhijit Kumar said that, prima facie, it appeared the student may have slipped from the staircase. Police have questioned the hostel warden and security personnel, and the body has been sent for a post-mortem. The deceased student's elder sister, Tanu, told reporters that she had spoken to Anu at around 9 am, during which she had said that she would complete some file work before meeting a teacher.

Later, Anu's roommate answered her phone and informed the family that she was not in the room and that a female student had died in the hostel, she alleged. The family accused the university administration of not providing timely and accurate information and also failing to give a clear response regarding the treatment provided at the hospital.

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They also alleged that they were not shown CCTV footage from the incident site. Meanwhile, students staged a protest outside the university campus, raising concerns over hostel arrangements and the behaviour of the administration.

University registrar V P Rakesh, in a statement, said, "Anu Gupta, a final-year MBA student from Saharanpur residing at Dr Sarojini Naidu Girls Hostel of IIMT University, died on Wednesday morning after falling from the hostel building. The university is fully cooperating with the police investigation." A detailed probe is on in the matter.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.