CHANDIGARH: A day after a 28-year-old PhD scholar allegedly died of electrocution on the Panjab University campus, the university suspended two engineering officials, while Chandigarh Police registered an FIR for causing death by negligence.The University also announced Rs 16 lakh as financial assistance for the victim’s family and offered a job to her brother following protests by students demanding accountability.The university on Wednesday suspended an executive engineer and a sub-divisional engineer from its works department in connection with the incident, officials said.Jyoti, a research scholar in the Department of Microbiology, died on Tuesday after allegedly coming into contact with an electric current while walking from her hostel to the department.According to police, rainwater had flooded the area, forcing her to take an unpaved path where an electric current is suspected to have leaked from a nearby junction box.She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.Chandigarh Police registered a case of death by negligence and lodged an FIR at Sector 11 police station.Officials said Rs 5 lakh would be provided from the discretionary fund of the Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, while the remaining Rs 11 lakh would come through the office of the Dean Student Welfare.Jyoti’s brother, who has completed Class 12 and holds an ITI (Electrical) qualification, will be offered a job as an electrician at the university in accordance with Punjab government rules, officials said.The university expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and offered prayers for Jyoti’s soul.Following the post-mortem examination, her body was handed over to her family.The incident triggered protests on the campus, with students staging a dharna outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office and raising slogans against the university administration.They demanded strict action against those responsible for electrical maintenance, adequate compensation for the family, a time-bound probe and immediate steps to prevent similar incidents in future.Jyoti came from a modest background. Her father is a farmer who also works as a driver at a private school in Haryana, while her mother is a homemaker.She had been supporting her family through her Senior Research Fellowship.Police said further investigation in the case is underway.(With PTI inputs)
