Death in PU hostel: While victim oscillated between life & death, friends made videos
While 24-year-old Vikas, who died of suspected drug overdose at boys’ hostel No. 7 of Panjab University yesterday, was oscillating between life and death, his two friends were making videos of him.
The victim’s friends, Aryan Parbhat (21) of Kullu, a PU student; and Parikshit Kaushal (24) of Shimla, a former student of the university, have been arrested on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
According to the investigation, videos recovered from Parikshit’s mobile phone revealed that Vikas, who also hailed from Kullu, had been lying unconscious since 3 am. The videos, recorded at 3:17 am, 3:46 am, 4:37 am and 7:58 am show disturbing scenes. In one clip, Parikshit is seen recording while Aryan, appearing to have been under the influence of some intoxicant, smokes a cigarette and blows smoke into the victim’s mouth pretending that he was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Another video shows Aryan covering Vikas’ nose with a blanket.
In one of the videos, Parikshit is reportedly seen telling Aryan that make the victim smoke so that he never gets up again.
According to the FIR registered at the Sector 11 police station, the suspects delayed taking Vikas to the hospital despite his deteriorating condition. Several hours later, he was taken to the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16. The police received information about the incident from the hospital around 10 am.
The police stated that the two suspects revealed that they all consumed drugs in the hostel.
During a search of the hostel room No. 93, block 1, two syringes and a bottle carrying an unidentified substance were found. A forensic team also examined the evidence.
The police have registered a case under Section 105 (culpable homicide that does not amount to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The mobile phone has been seized by the police.
Box – Disturbing scenes
In one of the videos, Parikshit is seen recording while Aryan, appearing to have been under the influence of some intoxicant, smokes a cigarette and blows smoke into the victim’s mouth, pretending that he was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Another video shows Aryan covering Vikas’ nose with a blanket.
