Daijiworld Media Network - Aligarh

Aligarh, Jan 13: A 20-year-old student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) died by suicide on Monday evening while she was on a video call with her father, who resides in Saudi Arabia, police and university officials said.

The deceased has been identified as Inshah Fatima, a final-year Diploma student in Computer Science. She hailed from the Baj Bahadur area of Azamgarh district and was residing in a hostel on the AMU campus.

According to officials, Inshah had earlier informed her brother in Azamgarh about her intention to end her life. Later, around 7.15 pm, she was on a video call with her father when she allegedly began tying a noose to the ceiling fan in her hostel room. Despite her father’s repeated pleas not to take the extreme step, she reportedly did not respond and kept the video call active.

Realising the seriousness of the situation, her father contacted an acquaintance working at AMU and requested him to rush to the hostel. He remained on the call with his daughter until help arrived. AMU staff reached the hostel within about 10 minutes and alerted the hostel authorities and the university’s proctorial team, following which Civil Lines police were informed.

The hostel room was forcibly opened, and Inshah was found hanging from the ceiling fan. She was immediately shifted by ambulance to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), AMU. Doctors admitted her to the ICU and attempted resuscitation for nearly three hours, but she was declared dead around 10.30 pm, hospital sources said.

Police later sealed the hostel room and called in a forensic team to examine the spot. No suicide note was recovered during the search. Senior university officials, including AMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon, visited the hostel and reviewed the situation.
AMU Proctor Waseem Ali said the exact reason behind the student taking the extreme step was not yet known. “Doctors made sustained efforts to save her, but she could not survive. The matter is under investigation,” he said.

Police officials said they are examining the student’s call records, academic background and personal circumstances, and are questioning her friends and classmates to ascertain the cause. Officials added that Inshah had stayed back on campus during the winter break and that her roommate had not yet returned when the incident occurred.

The victim’s family has been informed, and her relatives are travelling from Saudi Arabia to Aligarh. The post-mortem examination will be conducted after their arrival, officials said.