Kolkata: A 19-year-old law student from Kerala has died after falling from a hostel building at a premier university in Kolkata, with police probing the circumstances and past incidents at the campus drawing renewed attention.
Juven Joss Jebin, a first-year student at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), was found critically injured on Monday morning below a six-storey hostel block in Salt Lake. He was taken to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Investigation underway, no note recovered
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and begun an inquiry. No suicide note has been found so far. Early inputs point to possible personal issues, but investigators stressed that all angles remain open.
Students reported hearing a loud sound before discovering Jebin lying unconscious. Police teams reached the campus soon after and began questioning classmates and staff. Call records and CCTV footage are being examined to establish a clearer sequence of events.
A post-mortem examination is expected after the arrival of his family from Kerala. Further legal steps will depend on any formal complaint filed by relatives.
University response and student accounts
University authorities described the death as a significant loss and said the campus was in shock. Jebin, who hailed from Ernakulam, was active in cultural activities and had performed at a campus event days earlier.
Students said there were no visible signs of distress in the hours before the incident. Following the death, the administration held discussions with student representatives and indicated that access to counselling services would be strengthened.
Earlier deaths raise concerns
The incident has also revived focus on previous student deaths at the same institution. In 2012, a student was found dead after a fall from a hostel building. In 2015, another first-year student from Assam died under similar circumstances, with family members at the time alleging foul play and filing complaints against university officials.
Authorities have not linked the current case to earlier incidents, but investigators are expected to examine all relevant aspects as the probe continues.
(Note: Suicide is not a solution to anything, seek help from mental health experts and try to survive. When you have such thoughts, call 'Disha' helpline. Toll free helpline number: 1056, 0471-2552056)