Medico ends life at Kurnool Government General Hospital; parents allege murder

Kurnool: Kommu Harsha Praneeth Reddy, 19, a first year MBBS student of Kurnool Government General Hospital (KGH), committed suicide by hanging in his hostel room late on Thursday night. While the reasons behind taking extreme step by Praneeth Reddy are not yet known, hospital management says depression could be the reason but parents allege a cold blooded murder, being portrayed as suicide.

Praneeth Reddy hailed from Aravind Nagar in Kadapa town. The tragedy occurred just before 20 days ahead of first year exams with students busy preparing for them. Praeeth was also said to be preparing for the exams like others but was said to be in a state of depression, may be due to anxiety over exams. 

According to KGH officials, Harsha Praneeth Reddy bolted the door from inside the hostel room and hanged to the ceiling. Roommates who went for study elsewhere, returned at about 1.30 am and knocked the door. When there was no response and even his mobile was not answered, they broke open the doors and found Harsha Praneeth Reddy hanging from the ceiling.

They immediately brought this to the notice of hostel warden and Medical College principal. He was rushed to hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. The parents of Harsha Praneeth Reddy alleged at the hospital that their son was murdered in cold blood. K Ramanjulu Reddy, speaking to media, said that his son was not so a coward to commit suicide. “Someone hacked him to death and the college management is trying to portray it as suicide. The blood stains on his face are the proof of murder. 

My son told me several times that some seniors were ragging him,” he said.  However, medical sources attributed the blood to attempts to place him on ventilation when he was brought to the hospital.  Kurnool Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Y Yugendar Babu said according to preliminary investigation it was suicide. “However, parents have not filed any complaint. If they file a complaint of murder, we will investigate the incident from all angles and take necessary action,” he said. Medical College Principal GV Ram Prasad denied allegations of ragging in the college.