Depressed after Rohith's death, student of Hyderabad varsity goes missing

Hyderabad: University of Hyderabad PhD scholar Ditty Suresh, 28, an Ambedkar Students Association activist, went missing on Saturday afternoon from the university health centre, where he was admitted for a medical check-up earlier in the day, Gachibowli police said.

Suresh, a native of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, was a close friend of Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar who committed suicide on January 17. Suresh had actively participated in the protests at the university after Rohith’s death.

University doctors said he was suffering from depression and psychiatric problems for the past few months. His father Joseph Suresh had come from Kerala a few days ago to be with him.

On Saturday, his father with the help of his friends took him to the health centre after he took ill.

“While his father was talking to the doctor, Suresh left the centre, got on to his bike (KBV 8550) and rode away,” said Gachibowli sub-inspector M. Bhoopathi.
Suresh’s friends said that he was withdrawn in recent days and was reluctant to meet others.

“After Rohith’s death, he was more disturbed,” said Suresh’s friend on the campus.

A few days ago, Suresh had posted on his Facebook page: “There is little time left to end my journey. There is little time to change my dress.”

On February 1, he had posted: “Om Namah Shivaya... Insha Allah... Amen,” after which he kept on posting “Namah Shivaya…” multiple times.
Based on his father’s complaint, police booked a missing case and began looking for him.

His friends said none of them could reach him over the phone. An Ambedkar Students Association activist, who was pursuing his research in Comparative Literature, was staying in Room No. 25 in K Hostel on the Central University campus.