Hyderabad: A 20-year-old BTech student of the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) was found dead with “injuries” on the roof of the server room at a hostel on the institute’s campus in Gachibowli on Saturday. Police suspect it to be a case of suicide.According to Gachibowli police, the deceased, Pullepu Abhiroop, was a second-year student of the computer science and geospatial research (CGD) programme and was staying at Old Boys Hostel (OBH) on the campus. He was a native of Khammam.According to a complaint filed with the Gachibowli police by IIIT-Hyderabad registrar professor KS Rajan, security personnel reported that around 12.20pm a student “fell from the stairs onto the server room” (on the ground floor) at Himalaya ‘D’ Block . The head, campus facilities and security (CFS) rushed to the spot, but by then an ambulance shifted Abhiroop to a private hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.IIIT-Hyderabad described the cause of death as “injuries sustained due to the fall”. It said the institute had informed the student’s parents immediately after receiving confirmation of his death and was extending full cooperation to the investigating officers. “The institute administration is in touch with the family and is extending all possible support,” the institute said in an official release.Gachibowli sub-inspector Shashipal Reddy, who is the investigating officer (IO) in the case, told TOI: “The case is being investigated as a suicide. No suicide note was recovered from the scene. Preliminary information suggests some health issues may have triggered the suicide. The reason behind the death will be confirmed only after a full investigation.”He added that the deceased’s call and text records were being verified to establish whether he contacted anyone before the incident.“On inspection of the crime scene, it was observed that Abhiroop went to the railing adjacent to the staircase on the sixth floor of the building and jumped over. He was found on the roof of the server room, located on the ground floor. There was no one at the time of the incident. We have ruled out foul play as there were no eyewitnesses to the incident. Neither is there technical evidence supporting it,” the SI added.A case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Abhiroop’s body was shifted to Osmania Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.Reacting to the incident, IIIT-Hyderabad said, “It is with profound sadness that IIIT-H confirms the passing of Abhiroop Pullepu, following an incident on campus earlier today. Abhiroop sustained critical injuries following a fall and was immediately provided emergency assistance before being shifted to a hospital. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Abhiroop’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and all those who knew and cared for him.”“Our thoughts are with them during this unimaginably difficult time. We respectfully request that the privacy of Abhiroop’s family and the institute community be respected and that speculation or the circulation of unverified information be avoided while the investigation is underway. Further information will be shared, if appropriate, as and when verified details become available,” it added.
