Engg graduate kills self for T on OU campus

• Wishes his be the last suicide for statehood
• His father also prays no more deaths for Telangana

Hyderabad: An engineering graduate committed suicide on the Osmania University campus; he was reportedly frustrated over the delay in the formation of Telangana State. The incident led to mild tension on the campus as students demanded that the body be brought to the campus after an autopsy. Bandaru Srinivas was found hanging from a tree near OU library early on Saturday morning. On learning about it, the university police rushed to the spot and shifted the body to Gandhi Hospital. The body was later handed over to the family after autopsy. Police found a suicide note in his shirt pocket. It reads: "I am Srinivas and I am committing suicide for the cause of Telangana. I should be the last one to take life for the cause and nobody should die after me." Srinivas urged that the note be handed over to his parents. To his parents, the techie wrote, "Please do not mourn my death. I am dying for a cause. Mom and dad please forgive me and take care." He appealed to his elder brother Srisailam to help at least 10 poor students in his memory. Srisailam, who had completed his master's degree in education from OU campus, brought Srinivas to the hostel where B Ed students stay. Their native place is Gourupalli village in Talakondapalli mandal in Mahbubnagar district, where Srinivas's last rites were performed in the evening. Srinivas completed his engineering from a private college. It was thought the hostel would be a right place for Srinivas to prepare for competitive exams. "He was very clever in studies and calm in his behaviour. He used to go to library and stay till late referring books. He used to have his food in a hotel though he was asked to have hostel food," a roommate, whose name is also Srinivas, told reporters. Srisailam said, "My brother was bright in studies. He scored very well since SSC. He left us in a deep sorrow." His father Lakshmaiah, who was weeping inconsolably outside the mortuary, said: "I thought he would support the family. But he took the extreme, plunging us in gloom. However, he took his life for Telangana. I pray this should be the last death for Telangana." Meanwhile, Osmania University Students' Joint Action Committee demanded that the police hand over the body to them to enable all students to pay their tributes. Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman M Kodandaram, BJP state president G Kishan Reddy and some other leaders visited the hospital to pay their last respects to Srinivas.