Specially-Abled Student Dies By Suicide At IIIT Allahabad Day Before His Birthday; Mother Recalls Last Message

A deaf and mute IIIT Allahabad student died by suicide after he was distressed over failing an exam. Police are probing the case, while the institute has formed a committee to investigate his death

Representational Image | The deceased student, identified as 20-year-old Rahul Madala Chaitanya from Nizamabad, Telangana, was specially-abled and was scheduled to celebrate his 21st birthday the following day.

Source : ABPLIVE_AI

A first-year student of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Allahabad, allegedly died by suicide at the hostel campus on Saturday night, police confirmed on Sunday. The student, identified as 20-year-old Rahul Madala Chaitanya from Nizamabad, Telangana, was specially-abled and was scheduled to celebrate his 21st birthday the following day.

According to the police, Rahul jumped from the fifth floor of his hostel building at the IIIT campus around 11:55 pm on Saturday. Dhoomanganj Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ajendra Yadav told NDTV, “Upon receiving information, a police team rushed to the spot and took him to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.”

Police investigations revealed Rahul had been distressed over failing an examination. However, no suicide note was recovered from his room. Prayagraj Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP City) Abhishek Bharti told The Times of India (TOI), “The police team is gathering details from family members. Forensic experts are also examining the scene for clues. We are thoroughly probing the case.”

Rahul Asked Mother To Take Care Of Younger Brother & Father In Final Message

Rahul’s mother, Swarnalatha, told NDTV that she last heard from him on Saturday night when he sent her a message asking her to take care of his younger brother and father.

“I got scared on seeing the message and called him, but his phone was switched off. Then I called his friend, who went to check on him. His friend asked another student about Rahul’s whereabouts but abruptly disconnected the call. Ten minutes later, he called me back and said my son was being taken to the hospital,” she said.

She further revealed that upon reaching the institute on Sunday afternoon, she was informed of her son’s demise. She also alleged that the institute never informed the family that Rahul had skipped classes for six months.

According to NDTV, Rahul had secured an impressive All India Rank of 52 in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category of the JEE Mains examination last year. Despite being deaf and mute, he frequently communicated with his mother via video calls.

“My son did not like roaming around. He would study, watch television, and browse his phone. We also attended speech therapy sessions to help us communicate better. He would share details about his classes or anything he ate,” she said.

She also mentioned that Rahul had requested ₹500 from her on Thursday night, which she had sent.

Students Hold Candle March, IIIT Allahabad Initiates Probe

On Sunday evening, students organised a candle march on the campus to pay homage to Rahul and reiterated their demand for a transparent investigation into his death, TOI reported.

IIIT Allahabad has formed a three-member committee to probe the circumstances surrounding Rahul’s death. The panel comprises Director-in-Charge G.C. Nandi, Professor O.P. Vyas, and Dean (SA) Pawan Chakraborty. They have been instructed to submit a report to Director Mukul Sharad Sutaone within a week, according to a statement cited by NDTV.

Additionally, a five-member fact-finding sub-committee has been formed to examine student welfare issues. Public Relations Officer (PRO) Pankaj Mishra told TOI, “The panel will discuss ways to create a sympathetic and supportive environment for students, particularly those from different states, prioritising mental health support and counselling services.”

A separate statement from IIIT Allahabad, cited by NDTV, read: “We understand that such moments are incredibly difficult for everyone. The institute is here to provide any necessary support to those affected. All faculty members and the administration are available to help anyone in need of emotional or psychological support.”

The committee will also address allegations, if any, of faculty misbehaviour, as per TOI.