Mystery shrouds student's death at Ganjam college hostel

Berhampur: A 23-year-old student was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a private college hostel in Kaliabali under Ganjam district's Chamakhandi police station limits on Wednesday, triggering allegations from his family over delayed communication from hostel authorities.

The deceased, identified as D Purushottam Reddy of Laxmipur near Chamakhandi, was residing in the hostel while preparing for the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) entrance after completing his Plus II, sources said. According to police, Reddy fell sick late on Tuesday night and was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital in Chhatrapur, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

"The exact cause of death will be known after receiving the post-mortem report," said Sabyasachi Malla, inspector-in-charge of Chamakhandi police station. An unnatural death case has been registered, and an investigation is underway, he added.

Police handed over the body to the family after conducting the post-mortem. However, the student's mother, D Tarini Amma Reddy, filed an FIR alleging that the hostel authorities informed the family only after her son had been declared dead at the hospital. "We have requested the police to inquire properly into the exact cause of his death," said Reddy. Attempts to contact the college authorities for comment were unsuccessful.