A third-year student of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna died under mysterious circumstances in a city hospital on Monday morning prompting police to start a case of suspected murder against a college mate.
Akash Ranjan, 22, a student of mechanical engineering, was admitted at Paras HMRI hospital on Saturday night in an unconscious state with injuries marks on his hand and other body parts.
The police have registered a murder case against Akash's friend on the basis of the statements of his family members.
The Telegraph is withholding the name of the accused student since his version or that of his family members could not be obtained. The student's mobile phone was switched off whenever The Telegraph called his number.
The NIT Patna administration has spoken to the accused student. According to the institute's dean of student welfare, S.K. Verma, the student told them that Akash was a friend with whom he shared good relations. The student also said Akash had been depressed regarding his career prospects, Verma added.
The Agam Kuan police on Saturday night found Akash in a semi-conscious state near Care Hospital (on the old bypass road). The boy was frothing in the mouth.
Agam Kuan police station house officer Kamakhya Narain Singh said: "Before we could take the boy to a nearby hospital, his relatives reached the spot and took him to Nobel Hospital at Munnachak." Singh said the relatives informed the police that Akash was living in a rented flat at Bikhna Pahari. Akash lived outside the NIT premises as the institute doesn't have enough hostel accommodation for all its students.
"Based on a written complaint filed by the family members of the deceased, the police have registered a suspected murder case under section 302 of the IPC against **** (name withheld by The Telegraph), who too is an NIT Patna student," Singh said. "The charges will be slapped against the alleged accused after receipt of the viscera report."
Akash's body has been sent for post-mortem. The police have raided the residence of the accused student, but he was not present.
Mukesh, a cousin of Akash, gave details of the boy's last movements. "Around 8.30 on Saturday night, Akash had left for his friend's (name withheld by The Telegraph) birthday party at Munnachak area from the flat of his younger brother Ashish Ranjan. Before leaving for his friend's house, Akash had told Ashish that he would call him once he reaches his friend (name withheld by The Telegraph)'s house."
According to Mukesh, when Akash called Ashish, he was stammering while talking and didn't respond to his younger brother's queries. Sensing that something was amiss, Ashish, along with some of his friends, reached the spot near Care Hospital and found his elder brother in a semi-conscious state. They took Akash to Nobel Hospital, about one-and-a-half kilometres away, as some of its doctors were known to the family. But the doctors asked Akash's relatives to shift him to some other hospital.
On Saturday night itself, Akash was moved to Paras HMRI hospital after his condition deteriorated. Medical efforts proved futile and he died on Monday morning.
Akash's relatives claimed that he was first beaten up and then poisoned by some of his friends who had invited him to a birthday party that was hosted by the accused student.
"When Ashish reached the place near Care Hospital, Akash said his friends had forcefully made him drink some liquid and after beating him, had left him near Care Hospital," said cousin Mukesh.
The death of Akash has sent shockwaves through NIT Patna. Verma, the student welfare dean, said: "The boy had no history of any anti-academic activities in the institute and was a studious student." A student of NIT Patna, who spoke to The Telegraph on condition of anonymity, echoed what the accused boy told the administration. "Akash was under depression for some time about his career prospects," this boy said.
A resident of Lavna village under Gaurichak area in rural Patna, Akash belonged to a farming family. A relative said that Akash was a meritorious student and had got a scholarship from a private coaching institute that trains students for the JEE, which is the springboard for entrance to IITs and NITs.