By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The answer sheet of Dana Silva M Sangma, the niece of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who reportedly committed suicide in her hostel room April 24, has been sent to the forensic laboratory at Madhuban.
Informing this here on Saturday, Gurgaon Police said this was done to examine who wrote what on the answer sheet and to check for other details pertaining to the case.
Dana, a first year MBA student of Amity University, allegedly committed suicide after she was caught cheating from her mobile phone during an examination and subsequently expelled by the invigilator.
It may be mentioned police have registered a case under SC/ST Act apart from a case under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the IPC against the university authorities.
DCP (South) Hamid Akhtar said, “The case has been lodged under Section 3 of the (SC/ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, and the matter will be investigated by an ACP.”
With Dana’s family alleging extreme pressure by the university authorities forced her to take the extreme step, deputy Vice-Chancellor Major General (retired) BS Suhag on Thursday claimed the university is known for nurturing students and not discriminating against them.
So far, the police have not been able to make much progress in the investigation, but sources added that they are exploring all options and leaving no stone unturned to unravel the mysterious suicide of 21-year-old Dana.
A written report filed by the invigilator Suprio Ghatak on her answer sheet said, “found mobile phone in on mode in pocket” and interestingly the two words — “in Pocket” — were underlined twice.
From her side Dana in the official proforma wrote, “I wrote my answers on my own. The answers were not copied from anything. I studied well for this exam.”
The Amity University on the other hand issued a statement and clarified that Dana was surfing the internet during the exam.
According to Amity university, some personal reason might have forced Dana to take the extreme step and soon after she was caught, the invigilator took away Dana’s paper and asked her to leave the examination hall.
This has sparked off a debate amongst those who know Dana who wonder “how can she cheat when the mobile phone was in her pocket.”
Chief Minister Dr Sangma will also leave for New Delhi on Sunday and he is likely to pursue the case.
“This unfortunate incident has not happened in isolation. Such incidents are triggered because of the psyche of people who label people from the North-Eastern states as inferior,” Dr. Sangma said adding, “Whenever I interact with students from these states studying in Delhi, they complain of racial discrimination.”
