Depression After Wife’s Death Suspected Behind Co-operative College Fatality
Key Points:
- BEd teacher Bhim Kumar Ram, 35, found dead in locked staff quarter
- Police broke open door after no movement noticed for two days
- Excessive alcohol consumption suspected as cause of death
JAMSHEDPUR — A 35-year-old contractual BEd teacher was found dead inside a locked staff quarter at Co-operative College in Bistupur on Saturday evening, with police suspecting death due to excessive alcohol consumption.
The deceased, Bhim Kumar Ram, had been employed at the college on a contractual basis since 2019. He was originally from Ara in Bihar. However, his family had been residing in Ranchi for some time.
Neighbours told police that Ram’s wife had died around two years ago. After her passing, he had been living in severe mental depression. He had reportedly not stepped out of his room for the previous two days.
On Saturday evening, neighbours grew suspicious after noticing no movement from his room for a long time. One of them peered through a window. This is when the discovery was made and police were alerted.
College Principal Amar Singh informed the Bistupur police about the incident. Bistupur police station in-charge Alok Dubey arrived at the scene promptly with a team.
Ram’s room was found bolted from the inside. After repeated attempts to open the door failed, police broke it open. Inside, Ram was found lying unconscious on a sofa.
A liquor bottle was also recovered from near the body. Police immediately took possession of the body. It was subsequently sent for post-mortem examination.
Preliminary investigation points toward excessive alcohol consumption as the probable cause of his death. The final cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem report.
Ram had been working at the Bistupur institution as a contract teacher for nearly six years. He had lived alone in the staff quarter following his wife’s death. According to sources, he had become increasingly withdrawn and reclusive in recent months.
The body’s discovery after two days of inactivity alarmed residents of the college campus. An investigation into the matter is currently underway by the Bistupur police.
