A fourth semester BSc student studying nursing at Imphal’s Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) was found dead today morning on campus.
Abiel Sachiana Ch Marak, from Rongram in West Garo Hills, was just 21.
She was found in her hostel room, with local police saying that preliminary observations point to suicide being the cause, though this has not been confirmed.
Personnel from Lamphel police station and a forensics team cordoned off the area for the initial investigation and Marak’s body was then moved to the RIMS morgue for an autopsy.
RIMS has been in the throes of a protest for the past week, with students across the various programmes offered demanding the resignation of the institute’s Director, Dean and Sub-Dean.
On May 10, the students submitted a memorandum to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla accusing officials of making obscene remarks during a college event on April 24, harassing female students, imposing fines over a picnic on April 30 and ordering hostel evacuations.
The RIMS administration, however, justified disciplinary action saying students defied warnings and skipped classes in order to attend the picnic. Punishments included a 15-day suspension and fines.
