PhD scholar at JNU commits suicide due to 'personal issues'

A PhD scholar of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) allegedly committed suicide in the Munirka Vihar area on late Monday evening here.

An alumnus of the University of Hyderabad, the 27-year-old Dalit was found hanging from the ceiling at his friend's residence.

According to the Delhi Police, Jeevanantham was depressed over personal issues, though no suicide note was found near his body. There was no evidence that he killed himself due to any issues at the university.

Reportedly, Jeevanantham had come to his friends' house to have food. He later said he wanted to sleep and locked himself inside a room.

The PhD student, however, in his Facebook post on March 10, mentioned about discrimination against Dalits.

"There is no Equality in M.Phil/PhD Admission, there is no equality in Viva-voce, there is only denial of equality. When equality is denied everything is denied," the post said.

Jeevanantham was active in the 'Justice for Rohit Vemula' movement last year and was a part of the Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) at the University of Hyderabad.

PhD student Rohith Vemula had killed himself at the University of Hyderabad after alleged caste-based discrimination, inciting protests across the country.