Bhubaneswar, July 19: A faculty member of Utkal University is in the dock after a visually challenged student tried to end his life as he was allegedly “humiliated” by him during an examination.

Chakradhar Dash, 25, who is now admitted at the medicine ward of Capital Hospital, alleged that a faculty member insulted him when he reached the examination hall along with his scribe (a person who writes for the visually disabled student during examination) on July 17.

University authorities have started an inquiry into the matter. “We will take action against whosoever is found guilty,” said Sasmit Pani, the varsity’s director of distance and continuing education. A family member of Dash said he was a postgraduate student of history under the directorate of distance and continuing education and had gone to the varsity to take his semester test. However, the faculty member misbehaved with him and made fun of him before the class.

“He asked him to sit near the toilet and also insulted his scribe,” said Dash’s brother.

Dash’s friend Joginder said Dash returned home without taking the test and had been depressed since then.

“He did not go for the exam on Thursday. When we returned from the university, we found the door locked from inside. When he did not open the door despite the knocks, we suspected something was wrong and broke open the door. He had consumed a bottle of phenyl and was lying unconscious. We immediately rushed him to Capital Hospital,” said Joginder.

Doctors said Dash would need another two to three days to recover. “I have been regularly cornered by the faculty members of the directorate of distance and continuing education. I had time and again approached them with doubts but never got a helping hand. I went to the directorate head telling him that I had no books and he asked me not to write the exams and wait for another year till I get the books. This attitude of teachers has hurt me a lot,” said Dash.

“If this is the behaviour we get from teachers, there is no point in living. I was forced to end my life,” he said. Despite several attempts, the accused faculty member could not be available for comment.