Malda, Sept. 20: The suicide by a 21-year-old girl of Malda Polytechnic College because she had twice failed the internal examinations has sparked fury on the campus with a section of students holding the teachers responsible for her death.

Jharna Mondal, a diploma student in the electrical engineering department, killed herself by taking acid at her home last morning. She was rushed to the Malda sadar hospital where she died around 11 am today. The girl, who is from Manikchak, stayed with her aunt at Aurobindo Park.

Jharna had failed the examinations because she could not get adequate marks in the internal test, obtaining only three out of 20. Last year, too, she could not clear the internal hurdle.

The suicide came shortly after a civil engineering student, Krishnendu Sarkar, tried to kill himself by consuming an overdose of drugs in the polytechnic hostel.

As soon as news of Jharna’s death reached the campus, the students went on the warpath and blamed the teachers of the electrical engineering department for the tragedy.

Secretary of the Malda Polytechnic Students’ Union Ramakrishna Mishra said: “Unless students take tuition from the electrical department teachers, they cannot get the required 20 marks in the internal examinations. To get these marks, students are virtually forced to take tuition from the teachers. Those who take tuition get good marks. Those who do not have to settle for 2 or 3 marks. This is what happened in Jharna’s case.”

The authorities, however, scoffed at the allegations levelled by the students. “I have so far not received a single complaint that students are not given sufficient marks unless they take tuition from teachers of the electrical engineering department. As it is, there are only three teachers in a department whose sanctioned strength is six,” said acting principal Bikas Palit.

Not satisfied with the disclaimer, the students have decided to launch a campaign against the alleged practice.

Amid the charges and rebuttals, Jharna’s stunned family tried hard to come to terms with the tragedy. Her uncle Tapan Mondal said: “Jharna had been a good student all through. But she had failed the examinations for the past two years. That is why she was suffering from depression. But we could never imagine that she would commit suicide.”