Eight months after Vemula, another student found hanging in University of Hyderabad

Watch| Rohith Vemula Not A Dalit, Neither His Mother: HRD Commission’s Findings

UoH, also called Hyderabad Central University, was in news earlier in the year after Dalit PhD scholar Rohith Vemula was found dead. Vemula, who was protesting his and four other Dalit students’ suspension from the varsity, was also found hanging from the ceiling fan in a hostel room.

According to Inspector N Ramesh of Gachi Bowli Police Station, Praveen’s roommate said the deceased was alone in their room (204 in L Block of UoH campus) Friday night. “The roommate returned around 4.30 am (Saturday), and found the door locked from inside. When Praveen did not open even after minutes of knocking on the door, he and a few other hostel inmates broke open the door and found him hanging,” the inspector said.

“He did not leave any suicide note. The reason (for his death) is not known yet — he was new at UoH; no one really knew him that well,” Inspector Ramesh added.

Dr Gangadhar, the doctor on duty when two hostel inmates brought Praveen to the health centre on a motorcycle, said: “…No pulse or BP could be recorded when he was brought to the health centre. As per protocol, we moved him into the ambulance and gave CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or a lifesaving ‘heart message’) four or five times, put an oxygen mask and rushed him to the nearest hospital.’’

Praveen hailed from a middle-class family, and his father, N Narasimhulu, is a BSNL employee. His younger brother N Naveen said he had spoken to Praveen Thursday evening and had received no indication that he was depressed.

“He was normal. He did not tell me anything about what was in his mind,’’ he said. In a statement, the UoH said after he was declared dead at Citizen Hospital, the body was moved to Osmania General Hospital.

“The police are investigating the matter,” the university said.