A 22-year-old student of Kulasekaram Mookambika Medical college in Kanyakumari was found dead on Wednesday night. He is reported to have hanged himself with a shawl in his hostel room. The parents of the fourth-year Dalit student suspect foul play in the death of their son. 

This comes just weeks after three female students were found drowned in a well near a private naturopathy college in Villupuram.

Parathichemmal, the deceased youth, hails from Tiruchy district in Tamil Nadu. He was found dead, hanging in his room, by his friends at 5AM on Wednesday morning.

The News Minute tried to speak to the student's father, Balakrishnan. But Balakrishnan was in tears and wailing, and was not in a position to answer questions.

Murgesan, CPI district secretary, Kanyakumari said, “The college administration had called the parents early on Wednesday morning and told them to come to the college as their son was unwell. Three hours later, the college again called the parents and said that their son had committed suicide.”

He added, “There is no reason for him to commit suicide. He had spoken to his mother on Tuesday and told her that he will be coming homeon Friday. His friends told us that he spoke to them till 10 at night.”

Asked about any problems he was facing with the college authorities, he said that Parathichemmal’s father Balakrishnan had deposited Rs. 50,000 as examination fees for which he was not given a receipt. Later, when the practical examinations were about to begin, the student was told that he had not paid the fees.

Murgesan said that there was an argument between the college administration and the student. He added that the parents suspect foul play by the college authorities and want a postmortem to be conducted.

Parents alleged that the college administration sent the body to the government hospital and are not ready to talk to the parents. The parents and a few political parties together have filed a petition to the collector and he has asked the sub-collector to conduct an inquiry.  

Sources told The News Minute that the parents are not ready to believe that their son committed suicide. Balakrishnan has asked for a postmortem with three doctors and that the autopsy be videographed.

The postmortem was carried out on Thursday and the report is likely to be out in a week.