Female PhD scholar from Odisha found dead at Central University of Kerala

Bhubaneswar: An Odia girl pursuing PhD at Central University of Kerala (CUK) was found dead in her hostel under mysterious circumstances on April 2.

Rubi Patel (27), daughter of Chhanda Charan Patel of Salepali village under Ambabhona block in Odisha’s Bargarh district, was found hanging in a lavatory of her hostel at around 11.30 am on April 2, reports said.

Rubi’s body was brought to her native place from Kerala today.

Rubi was pursuing PhD in Hindi and Comparative Literature in CUK. It is suspected that the PhD scholar might have ended her life by hanging herself.

The police in Kerala have registered a case of unnatural death in this regard and launched a probe.

Soon after the incident, members of various students’ outfits, including SFI and ABVP, staged a protest on the campus of CUK and sought the immediate appointment of a psychiatrist for the students.

The protesters claimed that the varsity health centre did not have a psychiatrist.

The SFI unit at Hyderabad Central University (HCU), meanwhile, alleged that the female PhD scholar ended her life due to academic pressure.

The SFI-HCU also sought proper investigation into the incident and prompt action in this regard.