A 21-year-old second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student, Jyoti Sharma, died by suicide in her hostel room at Sharda University on July 18, 2025, Friday night, police said. Sharma, a resident of Gurugram, left a suicide note accusing two faculty members, Mahinder and Shairy, of mental harassment and humiliation. The note, recovered from her room, stated, "The teachers of PCP and Dental material are to blame. They mentally harassed me and humiliated me. I want them behind the prison."

Police arrested the two staff members on Saturday following a complaint from Sharma’s family. The incident, reported at Knowledge Park Police Station in Gautam Buddha Nagar, prompted a post-mortem examination of Sharma’s body. Additional DCP Sudhir Kumar confirmed the arrests and said a forensic team inspected the hostel room for evidence. "We have filed an FIR and assured the family and students of a swift and transparent investigation," Kumar said.

The suicide triggered protests among students, particularly hostel residents, who gathered late Friday night, chanting slogans like "We want justice" and "Sharda faculty down-down." Demonstrators demanded a fair investigation and criticized the university administration for alleged negligence. Some students claimed Sharma faced distress after being accused of forging signatures on assignments. Her brother told PTI that a professor mocked her publicly, calling her an "expert in signatures" and threatening to fail her, despite earlier assurances to the family that she would not face further harassment.

Sharda University suspended the two accused faculty members and formed a high-power inquiry committee to investigate the incident. The university’s Director of Public Relations stated, "We are fully cooperating with authorities and have extended all required documentation and access." The committee will examine the circumstances leading to Sharma’s death and recommend further measures.

The protests continued into Saturday morning, with Sharma’s mother publicly confronting the Head of the Medical Department, as seen in a video shared on X. Students also raised concerns about inadequate hostel facilities, including security and food, which they said added to their stress. Police managed to calm the situation, and investigations are ongoing to address the allegations in Sharma’s note. (Rh/Eth/RS)