A 21-year-old student of Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Vansh Gaint, was declared dead on Monday night, with authorities treating it as a case of suicide. His post-mortem report, issued on Wednesday, stated the cause of death as “asphyxiation as a result of hanging.”
Vansh, a resident of Patiala and a third-year student of the five-year integrated law programme, was found in his hostel room in a critical condition between 11:35 pm and 11:45 pm. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead around an hour after being admitted to Apollo Hospital.
His roommate and batchmate, Pritish Panda, recounted the events leading up to Vansh’s discovery.
Speaking to a news outlet, Pritish said that Vansh called a friend at 11:22 pm, asking about their whereabouts. Although they invited him to join them, he declined, saying they would meet later.
When Pritish returned to his own room, he found Vansh’s door locked from the inside. After multiple unanswered knocks and calls, Pritish peered inside through a ventilator opening and saw Vansh’s belongings on the study table. Convinced Vansh was inside, Pritish and others broke the door with the assistance of faculty warden Nikhil Saini, carefully removing the hinges to avoid injury.
Upon discovering Vansh, senior students performed CPR while rushing him to the hospital.
Pritish said Vansh showed signs of movement and groaning, leading his friends to believe he might survive. GNLU registrar Nitin Malik confirmed that doctors were initially hopeful about reviving him.
Friends and university officials expressed shock over the incident, noting Vansh’s good academic record and regular attendance.
Pritish mentioned Vansh had not eaten on Monday, having skipped breakfast and lunch, dissatisfied with the hostel’s rajma-chawal. Despite his avoidance of the meal, no apparent signs of distress were reported by his peers.
Vansh had recently begun attending therapy sessions with the university counsellor. According to Pritish, Vansh had completed two sessions and scheduled a third, expressing interest in gaining better self-understanding. Seeking therapy was common among students, and Pritish emphasised that Vansh did not display any evident psychological distress.
The university suspended academic activities on Tuesday and Wednesday, holding condolence meetings in Vansh’s memory. On Wednesday, Vansh’s body was taken back to Patiala by his uncles.
The circumstances surrounding Vansh’s death remain under investigation.
Also Read: Police Probe Underway After GNLU Student Found Dead In Hostel Room
