Munish Sood
MANDI: The alleged suicide by a 20-year-old BTech student at Jawahar Navodaya Government Engineering College (JNGEC) at Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh two days ago has taken a curious turn as a female fellow student has been arrested on the charges of blackmail and mental harassment.
The body of Arpit, a fourth semester Computer Science student, was found hanging in his hostel room. A suicide note recovered from his pocket has become a key piece of evidence in which Arpit reportedly named a first-year student, Lavanya, alleging that she blackmailed him and coerced him into a physical relationship.
Based on the contents of the suicide note and a formal complaint by the student’s mother, the police arrested Lavanya on Sunday (June 1, 2025). She was produced in court and remanded in two-day police custody.
Investigators have also collected CCTV footage from the hostel and forensic evidence from the room.
Victim’s mother accuses college of negligence
In a statement to the police, Seema Kumari, the victim’s mother and a resident of Lower Kara village in Hamirpur district, alleged that her son had been emotionally distressed for weeks.
According to her, Arpit had confided that Lavanya was blackmailing and mentally tormenting him, repeatedly forcing him into situations he was uncomfortable with.
Seema also alleged that when she attempted to speak to Lavanya’s family, the girl deliberately avoided the conversation and cut calls.
She also alleged that the college management failed to support Arpit during a recent bout of chickenpox. Instead of providing medical help, the administration reportedly asked him to leave the hostel. As a result, Arpit stayed with Lavanya in a government guest house in Sundernagar from May 4 to May 8, a fact now under investigation.
Didn’t have suicidal tendencies, says grieving mother
Expressing disbelief, Seema said, “My son was strong-willed. He couldn’t have taken such a step unless he was pushed to the edge. The emotional trauma and blackmail he endured left him with no choice.”
She also held the college authorities accountable for their indifference toward her son’s physical and mental well-being.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bharat Bhushan confirmed the arrest of the accused student. “The matter is sensitive. Based on the suicide note and the mother’s statement, we have taken the accused into custody. The investigation is ongoing and we are analysing digital, forensic and testimonial evidence,” he said.
