Dalit student at CU attempts ‘suicide’

Ajmer: PhD scholar at the Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ) at Bandrasindri was rushed to a hospital after he jumped from the first floor of his hostel on Wednesday night.

On one hand the university authorities claim that scholar Rajendra Kumar, who was caught drinking in his room, jumped in an attempt to avoid the hostel guards, Kumar on the other claimed that he jumped to end his life as he was being targeted because he was a Dalit.

Kumar alleged that night warden and security persons came to his room and slapped him on Wednesday. “They wanted to beat me and to save my life I jumped from the balcony. I fell to the ground and lost conscious,” said Kumar.

While Kumar said he would register a case of atrocity against the hostel authorities, the police and doctors have confirmed presence of alcohol in his blood. The university has set up a committee to look into the incident.

Kumar, a scholar of PhD in English, was taken to Yagnarayan Hospital last night but later shifted to JLN Hospital in Ajmer. The medical report stated that Kumar had fallen from a height. After regaining consciousness on Thursday evening, Kumar said, “The problem started last month when I went to the office of my warden S Kandaswami.” He abused me because of my caste saying why did I enter his office?” alleged Rajender. “He discriminated against me just because I belong to Dalit community. I will lodge a complaint with the police and also bring the matter to the notice of Human Rights Commission,” said Kumar, who hails from Ghaziabad.
Chief warden S Kanadswami said that he had gone to Kumar’s room after receiving complaints from other students that latter was creating nuisance in the hostel after consuming alcohol.
“When I reached Kumar’s room I found him under the influence of liquor. He was hurling abuses at university officials,” said Kandaswami. He further said the guards were directed to take Kumar for a medical test and in an attempt to free himself from their hold, Kumar jumped from the first floor. We came to know that a drunk student jumped from the balcony. We have not registered any case because no complaint has been registered so far. We went to the hospital but the student was unconscious. The doctors confirmed presence of liquor in his blood,” said Narender Singh of Bandrasindri police station.
Vice chancellor Arun K Pujari when contacted said that he was out of town and could not talk while public relations officer Anuradha Mittal did not respond. Official sources in the campus said that there was a complaint that Rajender Kumar was drinking in his room and that was a regular complaint

Source: The Time of India