Udupi: Polytechnic student commits suicide, protest rages
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)
Udupi, Aug 3: A second-year polytechnic student allegedly committed suicide as he had failed in five subjects which made him ineligible to continue to the third semester due to the present carry-over rule.
The deceased has been identified as Santosh Kumar (20), son of Sundar and Pratibha Jatanna, residents of Sagri.
It is said that Santosh Kumar hanged himself in his bedroom and the incident came to light when his parents called out to him and got no response. On opening the bedroom door, he was found hanging.
Angered by the incident, the students of polytechnic colleges, who have been protesting against the present carry-over rule over the past few days, rushed to Manipal hospital where the body was taken. They staged a flash protest and demanded an immediate change in the rule before other students take such extreme steps.
The students said that despite sending appeals to the DC, the MLA, and the government, there has not been a single response to their demands. The students called upon the DC to take immediate action.
"Santosh ended his life just because of the present carry-over system. If immediate action is not taken to resolve the matter, we will show our power," said Prasanth, one of the protestors.
MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, who visited the spot, tried to calm down the students and said that appropriate action will be taken in the matter. He assured the students that he would convey their appeals to the education minister and will also coordinate with the police in finding out the actual reason for the suicide.
The protestors also gathered at Tiger Circle and staged a dharna. Traffic was disrupted for sometime. Manipal police led by inspector Ravikumar arrived at the spot and tried to bring the situation under control.
Manipal police inspector Sadananda Tippannanavar warned the students that it was illegal to protest without official permission. The students also held a protest march to DC's office.
On Thursday August 2, the students had gone on a day-long hunger strike demanding change in the carry-over system, which prohibits a student from continuing to the next semester if he or she has failed in more than four subjects.
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