Bhubaneswar: A 23-year-old postgraduate student of philosophy at Utkal University was found dead in a pool of blood outside his hostel building on Sunday.
Initial police investigation suggests that Tapas Kumar Naik died from an accidental fall from the three-storeyed hostel building. Naik, who was in his final year of philosophy studies, was from Pantho village under Karanjia police station limits in Mayurbhanj district.
Police have dismissed the possibility of foul play and stated that there was no evidence of him being pushed to death. “The definitive cause of death, whether it was an accidental fall or suicide, will be determined after the post-mortem examination,” DCP Jagmohan Meena said.
His father, employed as a havildar at the Banspal fire station in Keonjhar district, was informed immediately. The family has not lodged any formal complaint regarding the incident.
University officials believe Naik’s fall was accidental. “After dinner on Saturday night, he went to the terrace to sleep. His body was found on the ground on Sunday morning. He might have fallen down accidentally,” a university official said.
Police reports indicate that while some other students had also slept on the hostel terrace, they claimed no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Naik’s fall.
“There is no wall around the rooftop. He was sleeping at a corner of the roof. We do not know how he fell down,” a student said.