JNU dalit student ‘suicide’ triggers call for CBI probe

A day after a 29-year-old dalit student from JNU, J. Muthukrishnan, allegedly committed suicide, the Delhi police on Tuesday claimed that he was not part of any politically active group on campus. However, according to the JNU students’ union, he actively participated in protests demanding “justice for Rohith Vemula” and was vocal about the “systematic alienation” of students from minorities. He is believed to have been suffering from depression and hanged himself at his South Korean friend’s house in Munirka using a blanket on Monday. Alleging that their son died under suspicious circumstances, his parents have demanded a CBI probe. Political leaders in Tamil Nadu — DMK’s M.K. Stalin, AIADMK’s T.T.V. Dinakaran and many others — also called for a CBI probe.

A day after a 29-year-old dalit student from JNU allegedly committed suicide, the Delhi police on Tuesday claimed that the student was not part of any politically active group on campus.

The deceased J. Muthukrishnan, who had named himself “Krish Rajini” on Facebook, hanged himself at his South Korean friend’s house in Munirka on Monday.

Muthukrishnan is believed to have actively participated in the protests after the death of another dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. he also posted about this on facebook. The police, however, ruled out any political affiliation of the victim.

“It is too early to comment on his association (with Rohith Vemula). But so far, we know that he (Krishnan) was not associated with any student groups active in JNU,” DCP (South) Ishwar Singh said.

The reason why the student took the extreme step is not known yet since no suicide note has been recovered, said the officer.

His body was discovered by his friend Gomen Kim, a South Korean national, and two other students — Lakshyajeet and Issac — at Kim’s home where they had gone for lunch.

The police said they will be scanning Muthukrishnan’s Facebook posts and call records.

His body was taken for postmortem to AIIMS on Monday and the premier hospital has constituted a five-member board to conduct the autopsy and issued direction for videography of the procedure which will be carried out tomorrow. The deceased, a native of Tamil Nadu, had joined JNU in October last year.

The family members have demanded a CBI probe. They claimed that Muthukrishnan J was not diagnosed with any mental illness and was not under any medication for depression.