A second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student at Sharda University, identified as 21-year-old Jyoti Sharma from Gurugram, died by suicide in her hostel room on Friday night. The tragic incident has sparked widespread protests and led to the arrest of two university staff members after a suicide note surfaced, alleging ongoing mental harassment by faculty.

The handwritten note found in her hostel room directly named two faculty members—Mahinder and Shairy—and accused them of mental abuse and humiliation. The note, widely circulated on social media, read: “I want them to go behind the bars. They mentally harassed me. They humiliated me. I have been in this stress for a long time. I want them to feel the same thing. I am sorry. I can’t live like this anymore. I can’t.”

Following the discovery of the body, police from Knowledge Park Police Station arrived at the scene and took the body for post-mortem. A forensic team also conducted a detailed inspection of the hostel room to gather evidence.

ADCP Made Two Arrest in the Case

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Sudhir Kumar confirmed the arrest of two university personnel based on a complaint filed by Jyoti’s family. “The two staff members from the management of the university have been arrested on the basis of the complaint lodged by the family members of the student,” he stated.

Tensions flared on campus as students and family members staged a protest overnight, accusing the university of negligence. A scuffle broke out between students and the police, and a viral video showed members of Jyoti’s family confronting the head of the dentistry department. The police eventually de-escalated the situation through dialogue, and order was restored.

The student’s family claimed that she was falsely accused of forging faculty signatures on her assignments, which caused her immense stress. According to her brother, “A week ago, a teacher blamed my sister for doing fake signatures of professors on her assignments. After which my father came to the university and talked to the administration, where he was assured that his daughter would not be targeted. But despite that, tomorrow the teacher mocked her by saying that ‘she is an expert in doing signatures’ and also threatened her with failing her in exams.”

In response to the outcry, Sharda University announced the suspension of the two faculty members named in the suicide note. Dr. Ajit Kumar, the university’s Public Relations Officer, stated, “For now, two teachers have been suspended. A committee has also been formed to investigate the matter. Action will be taken against those found guilty based on the committee’s report.” He further confirmed the university’s full cooperation with the authorities, saying, “The University is fully cooperating with statutory authorities conducting their own processes. All required documentation and access have been extended, we will continue to cooperate transparently.”

Meanwhile, Jyoti’s mother, Sunita, began a sit-in protest on campus, demanding justice and government intervention. “Call CM Yogi and PM Modi. I’ve been sitting here since 9 pm. I will not leave until my daughter gets justice. Do what you want, burn me, shut this place. I won’t move,” she declared. She also accused the police of using force on students and family members during the protest. “Police conducted a lathi charge on all our family members. All BDS students are scared now and just want to go home,” she added.

This incident follows another tragic case in Odisha where a student died after setting herself on fire in protest against alleged sexual harassment by a lecturer—raising further alarm over student safety and institutional accountability.

Authorities have assured Jyoti’s family and classmates of a transparent and swift investigation. The post-mortem report is awaited, and legal proceedings are ongoing as the community mourns yet another loss linked to alleged academic harassment.