Campus Protests Turn Violent
Angered by the incident, students launched protests late Wednesday, which escalated into violence. Four cars and a scooter were set ablaze, while the principal’s residence was vandalised. The agitation continued until 4:30 am on Thursday, with damages estimated at over ₹1 crore.
Authorities deployed police forces from more than a dozen stations to bring the situation under control. Many students have since vacated the hostel, claiming they were instructed to do so after a government directive.
Allegations of Negligence
Hilsa Subdivisional Officer (SDO) Amit Kumar Patel said that the students believe Sonam could have been saved if transportation to the hospital had been arranged immediately. They also criticised the lack of medical facilities on the hostel campus.
“Prima facie, the case appears to be suicide. An unnatural death case has been registered. If the family lodges a separate complaint, police will examine all other angles,” the SDO added.
Roommate’s Testimony
Sonam’s roommate, Shikha, revealed that the victim had skipped dinner on Wednesday night. “When I returned to the room, she was missing. Her laptop was still on. I later found her lying on the ground outside the hostel building,” she recounted.
The police arrived only after the protest had erupted, and an investigation is now underway to determine the exact circumstances of her death.
Family and Community Reaction
After the postmortem, Sonam’s body was handed over to her family, who took it back to Munger for the last rites. While family members have refrained from commenting, the unrest has intensified the debate around student safety and campus management in Bihar’s private colleges.
The incident highlights recurring concerns about poor infrastructure and inadequate health facilities in many educational institutions across the state. Local officials have assured that accountability will be fixed after the inquiry is completed.
