IIT-Kanpur Final-Year Student Found Dead in Hostel Room After Peers Report Foul Smell

A final year student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur was found dead in his hostel room, days after he was last seen by his peers. According to officials, the deceased had informed his family

that he had plans to visit home during his December holidays. He had also talked about securing a job in March. A 22-year-old electrical engineering student, hailing from Haryana's Mahendragarh, was found dead in his hostel room on Wednesday morning after the Police broke down the gate of his room, reported The Times of India. The student had not been seen since Sunday night. The students from an adjacent room reported a foul smell, following which the institute's administration, including the warden and the security personnel, investigated the matter. The police were then informed who broke the door leading to the discovery of his body. The students had attempted to contact the deceased without success. Police suspect depression drove the final-year electrical engineering student from Haryana to take his life, though no suicide note was recovered.The cops have seized the deceased's mobile phone, laptop, and other personal items for investigation. The family members of the deceased student have been informed, a senior official said, adding that the reason behind the death would only be known after a detailed probe, according to the report. "Family members have been informed. After their arrival, it will be known who he last spoke to and when, and whether there was any problem. The IIT administration has only given information about the incident. We are in the process of obtaining more details from them," DCP Dinesh Tripathi told TOI. "According to his father, Dheeraj had informed him of his plan to come home during the December holidays and had talked about securing a job in March. His sister had also called him up, to which he responded that he was busy with studies and would call back in a day or two," the officer added.Peers had indicated he appeared withdrawn in recent days, the officer said. In an official statement, IIT Kanpur expressed grief and said the youngster was a promising student and a member of the athletic team, according to a report by HT. The statement added that the reasons for the incident “remain uncertain” and that the institute was cooperating with the police.