CNMC Hospital's nursing student found hanging in hostel

Kolkata: An 18-year-old first-year nursing student at CMNC Hospital was found hanging from an iron grille in the lobby on the top floor of her hostel around 5.30am on Saturday.

As the news of her suicide spread, some of her hostel mates alleged that Samapti Das, who hailed from a poor family in a Bankura village, failed to cope with the pressures of studying a professional course and adjust to the hectic city life.

A few hosteliers also claimed Das was having problems with studying in English. Police, however, refused to accept the claim and said that the victim did mention study pressure in her suicide letter, but she had also written about several other issues, which they needed to probe. “There has been no complaint about her finding it difficult to study the course in English , nor has anyone mentioned it to us,” said an investigating officer. He pointed out that financial strain to study could be a reason for worry for the girl.

Police sources said Das was apparently fine even the night before, as she was seen chatting with her friends and enjoying a mini picnic with her hostel mates on Friday night, after which all of them retired to bed. “It was in the morning, when some students in the hostel found her hanging from an iron grille fixed in the lobby on the top floor of the nursing hostel with the help of a sari. They alerted the authorities,” said an officer.

A senior CNMCH official said, “Going by what she has written in her note, she was worried about a loan that her father had taken and she was finding it difficult to understand the lectures. She also hinted that she failed to live up to certain expectations.”

Hospital sources said that Das had recently told friends that she wanted to study somewhere else, where there would be less pressure. Cops are contacting her family for their version of events.

“A post-mortem is being conducted. The suicide note has not blamed city life, as being claimed. There is some reference to the tough course though,” said an officer from Beniapukur police station. Sources said inquest proceedings have been initiated.