Bengaluru Dental College Suicide Case: Six Faculty Members Suspended as Probe Deepens

Six staff members of Oxford Dental College in Bengaluru have been suspended following the death by suicide of a 23-year-old student, Yashaswini, with allegations from her family pointing to sustained humiliation and harassment by members of the college faculty. The suspensions come as police and institutional inquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the third-year dental student's death.

According to college authorities, the suspension order applies to six faculty members from the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology and will remain in force until further instructions. The action is described as interim in nature, pending the outcome of the police investigation and internal reviews.

Allegations of sustained humiliation

Yashaswini was found hanging at her residence on Friday, January 9. Her family has alleged that she was subjected to repeated public humiliation at the college, including remarks related to her attendance, appearance and academic participation. Relatives claim that the emotional distress caused by these incidents pushed the student into a state of deep mental pressure.

Family members told the police that Yashaswini had taken leave on Wednesday due to eye pain. When she returned to college the following day, she was allegedly reprimanded in front of her classmates for missing a seminar. The family has said the public nature of the reprimand left her deeply embarrassed and shaken.

Claims related to seminars and academic work

Reports quoting family members suggest that the student was repeatedly criticised for her clothing and appearance and was allegedly denied permission to attend academic seminars. It has also been claimed that radiology case work was withheld, which the family says affected her academic confidence and added to mounting stress.

Yashaswini's mother has alleged that derogatory remarks about her daughter's skin tone were made during classroom interactions and that these comments were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of targeting. The family maintains that the combined impact of these actions caused severe emotional distress.

Student protests and police action

Following the student's death, several students of Oxford Dental College staged a sit-in protest outside the mortuary, demanding strict disciplinary and legal action against those accused of harassment. Protesters called for accountability from both the college management and individual faculty members.

Police officials confirmed that a case has been registered and that statements from students, staff and family members are being recorded. Investigators have said they are examining all aspects of the allegations, including classroom conduct, academic policies and institutional response mechanisms.

Faculty members under suspension

The college issued an internal communication listing the six suspended staff members from the Oral Medicine and Radiology department. The order states that the suspensions will continue until further directions from the college administration or higher authorities.

The suspended faculty members are:

Anmol Razdan, Senior Lecturer

Shabana Banu, Senior Lecturer

Faika Kolkar, Senior Lecturer

Alba Dinesh, Senior Lecturer

Sindhu R, Reader

Sushmini Hegde, Professor

College officials have not commented on individual allegations, stating that the matter is under investigation.