Sharda University BDS student in Greater Noida dies by suicide, two staff arrested

On July 18, Jyoti Sharma, a second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery student at Sharda University in Greater Noida, died by suicide in her hostel room, police confirmed.

Authorities recovered a suicide note in which she alleged she had been “mentally harassed” and “humiliated” by two faculty members, naming them directly.

The Greater Noida Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sudhir Kumar, stated that her family filed a complaint based on the note, leading police to arrest the two identified staffers.

The incident has sparked campus unrest, with students protesting and demanding a transparent and impartial investigation.

Jyoti, a resident of Gurugram, was discovered hanging in her hostel room late Friday night. A post-mortem has been completed, and a formal case is underway at Knowledge Park police station.

According to reports, her family's visit to the hostel on the morning of July 18 fueled campus tensions, with students chanting slogans into the night.

University authorities have not released an official statement, though sources indicate that the accused faculty members have been suspended. A forensic team has examined the scene to gather evidence.

The arrest and ongoing investigation have drawn attention to the university's mental-health support and grievance mechanisms. Police say the probe is ongoing, and the administration has assured the student's family of a fair and swift inquiry.

The incident comes amid a troubling pattern of student suicides in India’s top educational institutions. Another tragic episode unfolded at IIT Kharagpur where a 21-year-old Ritam Mondal, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, was found dead in his hostel room—barely a week after returning from summer vacation on July 18.

This marks the fourth such death at IIT-KGP in seven months, sparking alarm over recurring mental health crises in prestigious campuses.

Authorities have initiated an investigation, but the repeated nature of these tragedies has intensified calls for urgent systemic reform in how institutions address student distress.