Bengaluru dental student dies by suicide after being harassed by lecturers over skin tone

New Delhi: A 23-year-old dental student in Bengaluru died by suicide after allegedly being mentally harassed by her college lecturers. Yashaswini B, a third-year student at a private dental college in Bengaluru, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her room last week.

According to Yashaswini's mother, G Pramila, her lecturers at Oxford Dental College, Bommanahalli, would humiliate her over her complexion and clothing in front of her classmates. The woman was allegedly harassed for arriving a few minutes late to class and was also questioned about her aspiration of becoming a doctor.

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Harassed by lecturers

The woman's mother also alleged in her complaint that her daughter was not allowed to attend seminars and was not allotted radiology case work. The complaint further stated that the woman was humiliated before the class for being absent for a day due to an eye-related issue. She was reportedly asked, “How many drops did you apply? Did you pour the entire bottle into your eye?”

Based on the woman's mother's complaint, the Suryanagar Police Station booked six lecturers, including the college principal under BNS Section 108 (abetment to suicide). Those who have been named in the FIR include -- Dr Anmol, Dr Alba, Dr Shabana, Dr Faika, Dr Sindhu, and Dr Sushmini.

Harassement over skin colour

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Initially, police had registered a case of unnatural death. However, on Sunday, Pramila lodged a fresh complaint, alleging that her daughter's lecturers would make derogatory remarks about her dressing style and harass her over her skin tone.

Yashaswini's mother alleged that her daughter took the extreme step as she was subjected to continuous harassment by the lecturers over the past year. She alleged that the lecturers would ask her daughter why she wanted to pursue the profession "with this face".