A third-year computer science student hung himself from the ceiling fan of his BIT-Mesra hostel room in Ranchi on Thursday morning apparently because he was unable to pay his mess charges and had been humiliated over the issue.

Pingal Tirkey (22) was a native of Dumka and hailed from a humble background. He was last seen by friends at the dinner table on Wednesday. Police have registered an unnatural death case, but are tight-lipped on the what triggered the aspiring engineer's death wish. No suicide note has been found.

BIT thana outpost OC Pappu Kumar Sharma said they were informed around 9am when the student didn't respond to knocking on his room door.

"Room 184, where the boy stayed alone, was locked from inside when we reached. The door was broken open and we found him (Pingal) hanging from the fan. He had turned a plastic rope into a noose. The body was retrieved and sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Bariatu for autopsy, but we are still looking for the reason behind the suicide," OC Sharma said.

According to the officer, neither Pingal's classmates nor other hostel inmates could explain what may have spurred the drastic step.

"The student had his meal last night (Wednesday) with his friends in the hostel and had retired to his room like every other day. In the morning, when he did not open the door, his friends got worried and informed the institute authorities who in turn informed us," Sharma said, adding that they were investigating possible angles such as academic pressure or a love affair gone awry relationship. "Students and teachers of BIT-Mesra seem clueless on why the boy died, possibly killed himself."

Unconfirmed sources said Pingal was unable to bear his mess (food and lodging) expenses and was slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000 for delay in payments. "He felt humiliated and was depressed ever since," one of the sources said.

No one from BIT-Mesra was ready to talk to the media about the incident.

"Please contact registrar A.P. Krishna," said the person who attended a call made to vice chancellor M.K. Mishra.

Registrar Krishna evaded queries and suggested that this newspaper should talk to dean of students' welfare on the matter. "Take the telephone number of the dean, Bimal Kumar Mishra, from the operator at BIT board number (06512275444)," he said.

The operator, however, refused to part with any number, insisting that the dean was busy at a meeting. "I will let him know and ask him to call you back. He is busy in a meeting," the operator said.

Father Anjalas Tirkey, an LIC clerk in Dumka, said Pingal was eldest among his two children. "My son was good in studies. Two days ago, I spoke to him. He didn't sound troubled," Tirkey said, adding they were clueless why the boy chose the noose.

How can the rate of student suicides be curbed in the state? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com