Phulbani: An 18-year-old Plus II student was found hanging in his hostel room at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at Tudipaju in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Monday afternoon.
The deceased has been identified as Gokul Kanhar, a first-year science student and resident of Teteripala village under Koeramandu panchayat in Phiringia block.
According to sources, Gokul’s body was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hostel room. Friends alerted school authorities, who informed the family around noon. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital (DHH), where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
While the exact circumstances leading to the incident remain under investigation, Gokul’s father has alleged that his son faced repeated mental harassment, scolding, and physical punishment from teachers, reportedly over possessing a mobile phone, which is prohibited in the residential school. “He was my only son. If he committed any mistake, they could have just expelled him from the school,” said Suresh Kanhar, the hapless father.
After the body was handed over to the family members, they along with the villagers went to the office of Kandhamal Collector Bed Bhushan, alleging negligence of the school authorities while demanding arrest of the principal. The collector assured them of proper investigation into the matter and compensation for the bereaved family as per the norms. “The school authorities have also requested a thorough police probe to determine the exact cause. Action will be taken based on the probe findings,” he added.
However, Gokul’s parents have not filed a formal complaint with the police, according to Phulbani Sadar SDPO Subhrajit Nayak. Police have registered an unnatural death case at Phulbani Sadar police station and initiated an inquiry.
