Delhi: PhD student found dead in JNU hostel; probe launched

New Delhi: A PhD student was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the campus of his hostel in Delhi Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday night.

The deceased has been identified as J R Philemon, native of Senapti district in Manipur, was found dead in room no 171 of the Brahmaputra Hostel, police said.

He was pursing his PhD on the subject of West Asia and he hadn’t been seen for the last three days, a senior police officer said.

The Delhi police said that he had not been seen by anyone for three days and that his death was discovered only after a foul stench started coming from his room. Students of the university alerted the security about the smell and then found his dead.

“When a foul smell started emanating from the room, the student in the neighbouring room called other students and security and forcefully opened door. He was found dead in the room,” he said.

The University is already embroiled in a controversy over a student who went missing after a fight with students. A section of students have been staging protests alleging inaction by authorities in the case.

The student, Najeeb Ahmed, went missing on the 15th of October this year following a brawl on the campus the night before.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had directed the Delhi Police to set up a special team to trace a missing student. The police have even announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh in the case but are yet to make any breakthrough in the case.