The tragedy echoes a recent case in Odisha, where a student died after setting herself on fire due to alleged teacher harassment.
BY PC Bureau
Greater Noida, July 15 — In a tragic repeat of events highlighting the disturbing pattern of student suicides linked to alleged academic harassment, a second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student at Sharda University in Greater Noida died by suicide on Monday. The incident occurred inside the university campus, which falls under the jurisdiction of Knowledge Park Police Station.
The 20-year-old student, whose identity has been withheld, reportedly left behind a suicide note accusing two faculty members of prolonged mental harassment. The note, recovered by police from the scene, directly blamed teachers from the departments of Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics (PCP) and Dental Materials for pushing her over the edge.
“If I die, the teachers of PCP and Dental material are to blame. I want them to go behind bars. They mentally harassed me. They humiliated me. I have been in stress because of them for a long time. I want them to face the same thing,” she allegedly wrote.
The note also named two faculty members, demanding legal action against them.
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As news of the incident spread, tensions quickly escalated on campus. A large number of students gathered to protest against what they termed a culture of intimidation and apathy by certain faculty members. Slogans demanding justice filled the air as students refused to disperse, even as police tried to calm the situation. A heated altercation between protesting students and police personnel was also reported.
Following a formal complaint by the student’s family, police have detained two individuals named in the suicide note. The investigation is ongoing.
Sharda University student dies by suicide, 2 professors arrested
21-year-old BDS student Jyoti Sharma found hanging in her hostel room in Greater #Noida on Friday night
In her suicide note, she accuses two professors named Mahendra Sir and Sharg Ma’am of mental… pic.twitter.com/tqtC25Hyca
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) July 19, 2025
This is the second such incident within a week. Just days earlier, in Odisha’s Balasore district, another college student took her own life after allegedly facing repeated harassment by a faculty member. She set herself ablaze and later succumbed to severe burn injuries at the hospital.
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These back-to-back tragedies have sent shockwaves through the academic community, raising urgent questions about mental health support systems and grievance redressal mechanisms in Indian educational institutions.
While the administration of Sharda University has yet to issue a detailed statement, early reports suggest the college has formed an internal committee to probe the matter. However, students and activists insist that only an impartial judicial inquiry can ensure justice.
With both cases now under investigation, student groups and civil society organizations are calling for systemic reforms to address faculty misconduct and provide mental health safeguards for students. The hashtag #JusticeForStudents began trending on social media Monday night, reflecting growing public outrage.
These incidents have reignited debate on academic pressure, student vulnerability, and the urgent need for empathetic faculty-student engagement.
As investigations continue, the family of the deceased has called for swift and stern action: “Our daughter’s voice must not go unheard. Her last words must lead to change,” her father said, holding back tears outside the police station.
