A day after Amandeep Singh, a final year student of The University Institute of Engineering and Technology, was charred to death in his hostel room at the Panjab University Campus, his death remains shrouded in mystery.
According to sources, around 3:15 pm there were two consecutive blasts from the room within a gap of 10 minutes which brought the matter to light. Smoke was bellowing from the room and fire could be seen. The blasts were so powerful that the desert cooler on the window was thrown few feet away in the balcony.
A team of firefighters reached the spot and doused the flames but what waited inside the room was shocking. Amandeep was fastened with his bed with a chain under lock and key. The keys of the locks however were recovered from the room itself. An empty bottle was recovered which was lying beside the burnt body.
Sources also claimed that blood was oozing out of Amandeep’s mouth which clearly indicates poisoning but the content of the empty bottle are still to be confirmed. However no police officer was available for comments and it cannot be verified that how traces of blood could be seen on the face of a corpse which was charred to death.
Preemptive investigations suggest that it is a case of suicide, but if sources are to be believed than footprints were found in the mud behind the room at the side of the balcony. The final year student left his room for an examination with his friend in a car which is recorded in CCTV footage.
But after reaching the premises, Amandeep made an excuse that he has left his admit card behind and walked back towards his room. According to sources admit card is not that important as this was not his first examination. It is after his return that the incident took place which has raised more questions than providing answers.
The friends of the deceased say that he was a jovial person with a good humour but on the other hand his mobile phone was switched of for the past four days. The room mate of the deceased say that though there were no sign of depression visible but for the past few days it seemed that he was not interested in studies.
On one hand police is suspecting suicide but the chances of foul play cannot be totally nullified. Chandigarh is having one of its worst summers but during investigations it was found that the room heater was switched on beneath the bed of the deceased and no suicide note was recovered from the scene.
The cause of fire is also being debated. Some sources say that kerosene was used but police has also recovered highly flammable chemical from within the room and police sources has denied to comment on the matter till the forensic report along with the viscera report are made.