A Class X student of a private English-medium school in Khurda of Odisha allegedly committed suicide after the dean of the school took away his mobile phone.

His body was found hanging from a tree on the premises of the school — Seventh-Day Adventist Higher Secondary School, a reputed school in Khurda town.

Police sources said the mobile phone was seized from him on Thursday night by the school dean while he was taking a surprise round of the hostel. Sources said after the phone was seized, he was cautioned by the school authorities not to repeat it in the future and was also told that his parents would be informed about it.

Sources said after the dean left the hostel, the student came outside the hostel room and allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree on the school premises.

Principal B. Israel told The Telegraph: “It is unfortunate that a student of our school committed suicide. The deceased was studying in Class X.”

On being asked whether taking away the mobile phone could be one of the reasons for committing suicide, the principal said: “Police are investigating the matter. We don’t allow students to use mobile phones on the school premises. The students are allowed to use mobile phones on Sunday only. He came to the hostel from his house two days back only. Perhaps, he brought the mobile phone from home. His phone was seized by dean on Thursday night.”

Subdivisional police officer (SDPO) of Khurda, Dilip Das, told The Telegraph: “The body was found early in the morning by the school authorities. A case of unnatural death has been registered. The investigation is on to ascertain why the student took the extreme step. There may be various reasons for one taking the step. The decision to end life is taken on the spur of the moment.”

Das maintained that the allegation about the school authorities taking away the mobile phone and later on the student committing suicide was also being investigated.

“The case is wide open now. We are waiting for his parents to come.”

The co-education school has classes from LKG to Class XII and is known for adhering to the principles of disciplines. Around 880 students read in the school. There are boarding facilities for students. Nearly 300 students reside in the hostel of the school.

Sources said the deceased was the single child of his parents. His father is working in the Odisha State Armed Police Force. Though the deceased was a native of Gajapati district, his father is currently posted in Puri.

The police are also investigating how the student got the mobile phone and whether the school authorities cautioned him that he might be rusticated from the school for violating school discipline by bringing the mobile phone to the school.

“All these would be investigated including to whom he was talking and whether he played any games. We are waiting for the parents to come,” said a senior police official.