The Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) has seized two Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and documents from the SRM Institute of Science and Technology after a seven-hour raid on its premises on Tuesday. The raid is a part of the CB-CID investigation into the student suicides that rocked the institute.
The educational institution is under scanner following a three student suicides reported from inside the campus in Kattankulathur near Chennai. Between the last week of May and July third week, three students studying engineering in the college had killed themselves inside the campus due to various reasons. While the institute issued a statement expressing anguish over the incidents and stated that the campus provides support and guidance to the students who are in need of counseling, the police at Maraimalai Nagar station were tasked with investigating the suicides which happened in a span of 60 days.
On Tuesday, a team of 30 officers from the CB-CID led by the Superintendent of Police S Mallika conducted raids in the SRM Institute of Science and Technology as a part of the investigation. In the raids which lasted till around 6pm in the evening, two DVRs and some documents were seized from inside the college campus.
Speaking to TNM about the raids, a senior CB-CID official said that the raids are a part of the investigation into the cases. “Since the incidents happened here, (Kattankulathur campus) we inspected the campus and the spots. We have questioned around 25 witnesses in the campus including professors and housekeeping staff. The probe will continue,” the official added.
On July 17, two days after the third student killed himself, the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police JK Tripathi ordered CB-CID probe into the suicides, thereby transferring all the cases from Maraimalai Nagar police to CB-CID.
If you or anyone you know is feeling depressed or suicidal, consider reaching out to one of the following helplines:
Tamil Nadu:
State health department suicide helpline number - 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050
Telangana:
Telangana government suicide prevention toll free number - 104
Roshni- 040-66202000, 66202001
SEVA- 09441778290, 040 - 27504682 (between 9 AM and 7 PM)
Karnataka:
Sahai : 24-hour helpline numbers: 080- 65000111, 080-65000222
Kerala:
Maithri helpline - 0484-2540530
Chaithram helpline: 0484-2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Andhra Pradesh:
Life Suicide Prevention Helpline No.78930-78930
Roshni -
Helpline 1: 9166202000
Helpline 2: 9127848584