Nepalese student found dead at Barwala college, hostel mates damage property

Damaged building of Swami Devi Dyal College, Barwala, on Monday. Jaipal Singh

A 19-YEAR-OLD student from Nepal, Noorjam Hawari, who was studying at Swami Devi Dyal College, Barwala — about 40 km from here — died in mysterious circumstances late on Sunday night. College authorities claim that Noorjam fell off the third floor of the hostel building and died on the spot. Noorjam’s death triggered protest by his hostel mates who went on a rampage, damaged college vehicles and vandalised the campus building. The agitated students blamed the college management for delay in taking him to hospital.

On Monday, the college remained shut. Around 20 Haryana Police personnel have been deputed on the college’s campus to maintain law and order. The college has also declared a holiday on Tuesday in the wake of the prevailing tension on its campus.Noorjam was spotted lying on the floor next to the hostel building about 11.45 pm. He was first spotted by two of his hostel mates who alerted the college guard. They alleged the guard was found sleeping and failed to react in time.

Noorjam was spotted lying on the floor next to the hostel building about 11.45 pm. He was first spotted by two of his hostel mates who alerted the college guard. They alleged the guard was found sleeping and failed to react in time.
Noorjam was a student of second year in an engineering course. His family was informed about the tragic incident. They will arrive here on Tuesday, after which a post-mortem examination shall be conducted at the General Hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula.

“Two students initially spotted his [Noorjam’s] body. He was lying in a pool of blood. His mobile phone was found in a damaged condition, lying next to his body. I immediately raised the alarm and alerted other friends,” said a student living in hostel number B4. Noorjam was also residing in the same hostel block.

“The hostel guard was informed but he was found sleeping. He didn’t react in time. College ambulance was called but it took 20 minutes to reach. Noorjam was first taken to the campus hospital in the same ambulance. But the campus hospital had no facilities to deal with an emergency patient. He was referred to Panchkula. By the time the ambulance reached main gate of the college, it developed some snag and failed to move further. Noorjam was then taken to Panchkula hospital in a private vehicle. We reached hospital about 1 am. The doctors declared him [Noorjam] dead on arrival,” another hosteller told Chandigarh Newsline on condition of anonymity.

As the news of Noorjam’s death spread in the hostel, the hostellers got agitated and broke windowpanes of the college buildings. The hostellers alleged that even after coming to know about the incident, the college management officials reached very late and rather than helping, did not allow them to step out of their campus.Noorjam’s friends told Chandigarh Newsline that a few days ago, a minor scuffle had broken out between a group of Nepalese students and another group of students mostly hailing from Panipat district of Haryana. “Although

Noorjam’s friends told Chandigarh Newsline that a few days ago, a minor scuffle had broken out between a group of Nepalese students and another group of students mostly hailing from Panipat district of Haryana. “Although Noorjam was not involved in that scuffle, we suspect there could be some foul play. Police must investigate it thoroughly,” said one of Noorjam’s hostel mates and close friends.

The college has around 10,000 students who come from various districts of Haryana, Punjab, New Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and various other states. Around 300 students are Nepal nationals who live in college’s hostel. College students held a candlelight march on campus on Monday evening.

Amit Jindal, a senior functionary of the college management, said, “Police are investigating the case. We have also handed over the CCTV footage of the cameras installed in the hostel block where Noorjam was spotted in an injured state. Prima facie, it appears to be a case of accidental fall.”

“We have informed the student’s family members about the tragic incident,” said Roshan Lal, another member of the college management.

Police have not yet registered any case in the incident. “We are waiting for Noorjam’s family members. His roommate told us that he left the room about 10.30 pm to bring water, but didn’t return. About an hour later, he was spotted lying on the floor in a pool of blood. The terrace from where Noorjam is suspected to have jumped or slipped is accessible to all the hostellers. Students keep going there even during night hours as the main door to the terrace is unlocked,” said Sub-Inspector Vijay Kumar, investigating officer of the case.