A 20-year-old second-year dental student from Sharda University, Greater Noida, was found dead in her hostel room on Friday night, prompting a major outcry on campus and renewed questions over the mental well-being of students in academic institutions.
The Greater Noida police confirmed the death late Friday, describing it as a suspected suicide. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Sudhir Kumar, a suicide note was recovered from the scene.
In it, the young woman allegedly blamed faculty members from two departments—Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics and Dental Materials—for mentally harassing and humiliating her over an extended period.
“If I die, the teachers of the Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics and Dental Materials departments are to blame,” the note reportedly stated.
“They mentally harassed me. They humiliated me. I have been under stress because of them for a long time.”
These serious allegations have ignited widespread concern and unrest within the student community.
Were Warning Signs Ignored?
The student’s brother, speaking to the media, alleged that his sister had repeatedly expressed feeling targeted by the two professors. According to him, their father visited the campus on July 14, attempting to intervene by speaking to the Head of Department (HOD), but no effective action was taken.
“Her batchmates told us she had been humiliated in class,” he said.
“The teachers allegedly threatened to fail her. After speaking with her on Thursday, we heard nothing more. On Friday night, we learned she was gone.”
This raises pressing questions: Was enough done by the university after the family raised concerns? Did institutional apathy contribute to this tragedy?
#StudentSafety #MentalHealthOnCampus #FacultyAccountability
Campus Protests and Emotional Outbursts
As news of the student’s death spread, her mother staged a sit-in protest at the university premises, demanding justice and calling for strict action against those responsible.
“I’ve been sitting here since Friday night. I will not leave until my daughter gets justice,” she said.
In a widely shared video, the grieving mother is seen slapping the HOD when he approached her during the protest—an action reflecting her anguish and the family’s frustration over the university’s alleged inaction.
Students, including the deceased’s batchmates, joined the protest in solidarity. However, the student’s brother claimed that the demonstration, which he said was peaceful, was met with police lathicharge, though officials have not confirmed or commented on the accusation.
#JusticeForStudents #CampusProtest #PoliceResponse
University Responds with Inquiry
In a formal statement, Sharda University said it had constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the student’s death. A spokesperson added that the university was “fully cooperating with statutory authorities.”
“The committee will look into all facts and recommend necessary institutional measures,” the university said.
#UniversityInquiry #ShardaUniversity
Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered based on the family’s complaint, naming five individuals, two of whom are currently in police custody for questioning, said ADCP Kumar.
Political Storm and National Debate
The tragic incident quickly drew national attention, with several Opposition leaders questioning the safety of female students in India’s higher education institutions.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a social media post, wrote:
“First, a female student in Odisha is driven to suicide. Now, a student at Sharda University ends her life, alleging harassment by faculty. Are our campuses no longer safe for our children? How can they hope for a better life when their very lives are not secure?”
She urged the central government to take urgent and concrete steps to ensure such incidents are prevented.
#CampusHarassment #StopStudentSuicides #WomenSafetyInEducation
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) also issued a statement, criticizing the contrast between the Prime Minister’s statements on women’s safety and the situation on the ground:
“Prime Minister Modi lands in Bengal preaching women’s safety while in Yogi Adityanath’s U.P., a BDS student allegedly dies by suicide due to faculty harassment.”
#HypocrisyExposed #StudentJustice #UPNews
Lingering Questions
This incident is not just about one student’s tragic death—it brings to light larger systemic issues:
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Are educational institutions failing to protect their students from mental trauma and faculty overreach?
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Were there red flags that went unheeded by university officials?
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Can faculty members be held accountable when allegations of mental harassment arise?
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Should external monitoring mechanisms be instituted across universities to safeguard student welfare?