Andhra Pradesh: Dental Student Dies by Suicide, Family Alleges Harassment

 Tirupati: Second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery student Pradeep Kumar, 21, died by suicide on Tuesday, unable to bear the alleged ragging and sexual harassment he had to face at a private college in Chintareddy Palem, Nellore district.

Pradeep is a native of Tadipatri in Anatapur district. His elder brother Akhil said Pradeep wrote one MMBS student Rahul's name on his hostel room's wall, blaming him for the torture, before jumping out of the fifth floor of his hostel building.

Nellore superintendent of police (SP) G. Krishnakanth dismissed the ragging allegation. He said the suicide was due to "personal disharmony between two close friends".

"We are investigating the sexual harassment accusations made by the family members of the deceased and will soon establish the actual reasons behind the suicide," Krishnakanth said.

Nellore Rural Police registered a case and further investigation is underway.

The deceased brother Akhil is sure sexual harassment was the reason behind Pradeep's death.

"Around 2:55 am today, Pradeep sent me a message stating that he was going to die by suicide as he was unable to bear the harassment meted out to him by Rahul and some other seniors," Akhil said.

Akhil immediately alerted his relatives in Nellore but by the time they arrived at the spot Pradeep was dead.

The victim's family has appealed to the police to conduct a fair investigation and punish those responsible for Pradeep's death.