BY PC Bureau
May 15, 2025 — The suspected suicide of Abiel Sachiana Ch Marak, a 21-year-old B.Sc. Nursing student from Meghalaya, in her hostel room at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) on Tuesday has deepened concerns about student welfare and the volatile atmosphere at the institute. As investigations continue, the tragedy has cast a spotlight on the ongoing protests against the RIMS administration, with students and observers questioning whether the campus unrest contributed to Marak’s distress.
Marak, a fourth-semester student from West Garo Hills in Meghalaya’s Tura District, was found unresponsive after missing the morning roll call, prompting peers to check her hostel room. Authorities from Lamphel Police Station and the Manipur Forensic Sciences Department responded swiftly, and her body was moved to the RIMS morgue for a post-mortem examination. While preliminary reports suggest suicide, officials await autopsy results to confirm the cause of death. A case has been registered, and police are probing all angles, including potential links to the campus environment.
The incident has unfolded amid a week-long student agitation at RIMS, where demands for the resignation of the Director, Dean, and Sub-Dean have intensified. The protests, which began around May 7, stem from allegations of administrative misconduct, including derogatory remarks made during a college event on April 24 and harsh penalties imposed on 218 students for attending an unauthorized picnic on April 30. Students faced 15-day suspensions, fines, and hostel evacuation orders, fueling accusations of overreach and harassment.
Deeply heartbreaking !
A young nursing student from Meghalaya, studying at RIMS Imphal, was tragically found dead by suicide in her hostel room.
This devastating loss raises urgent questions about the emotional and mental well-being of our students living far from home.… pic.twitter.com/3OerJ097cz— Preeti Mahapatra🇮🇳 (@OfficialPreetiM) May 14, 2025
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Particularly alarming are reports of sexist and threatening comments allegedly directed at female students, including references to “stripping” or “dancing” and a chilling remark attributed to the Director: “If we want to commit suicide, he would hang us himself.” These allegations, detailed in a memorandum submitted to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on May 10, have heightened tensions and raised questions about the psychological toll on students like Marak.
“The campus has been a pressure cooker,” said a third-year MBBS student, speaking anonymously. “The administration’s actions, combined with the lack of mental health support, make it hard for students to cope, especially those far from home.” As an out-of-state student, Marak may have faced additional challenges, including cultural isolation and the rigors of nursing education, compounding any stress from the unrest.
The RIMS administration has maintained that its disciplinary measures were justified, citing students’ defiance of rules. However, in the wake of Marak’s death, the institute has remained silent on specific steps to address student grievances or enhance mental health resources. Sources indicate that negotiations with student leaders are underway, but no resolution has been reached.
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Marak’s family, who arrived in Imphal on Tuesday evening, has not issued a public statement, and her body remains at the RIMS morgue pending further procedures. Meanwhile, the tragedy has sparked outrage on social media, with calls for accountability and systemic reforms at RIMS. “This is a wake-up call. Medical institutes must prioritize student mental health and foster safe environments,” posted a user on X.
As the investigation into Marak’s death progresses, the incident underscores broader issues in Indian medical education, where academic pressure and institutional challenges have been linked to student suicides at institutions like AIIMS and IITs. With RIMS under scrutiny, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the institute can address the unrest and prevent further tragedies.
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