VASCO
The death of 20-year-old Rishi Nair, a 2nd-year student in the Physics stream, inside the BITS Pilani campus has triggered a series of security measures, with Verna police now stepping up investigations and deploying staff at the institute’s gates to screen food and other parcels ordered online by students.
Nair, who was found dead in his hostel room earlier this month, initially appeared to have choked on his vomit while asleep. However, subsequent forensic tests revealed traces of drugs, linking his death to substance abuse and sparking outrage among locals, parents, political parties and student groups.
His death, the fifth on the campus in the last nine months, has intensified calls for stronger security and preventive measures.
Sources confirmed that the police deployment at campus gates began earlier this week, with staff instructed to carefully inspect parcels brought in by delivery agents. The step is aimed at preventing narcotics or other prohibited items from slipping into the hostels under the guise of online orders.
“There have been five deaths of students in the BITS Pilani campus in the last nine months. However, this is the first time that the role of drugs has been established in the death of the student. The police have stepped up the investigation into the incident,” said a source.
“The Verna police have now deployed staff to check for any parcels that come into the campus which may be ordered by the students on an online platform.”
“In fact, on Thursday, the police staff, when checking the food parcel ordered by a student, found a cigarette packet. The police immediately destroyed the packet and even warned the delivery company of the incident. The manager of the company was called and informed about the incident and given a very strict warning. This exercise has begun in the last two days or so.”
“The BITS Pilani campus has always been checking for the parcels of the students, but now the Verna police staff acts like an additional layer of security. The police have also studied all the entry and exit points of the campus to understand the layout so that necessary steps can be taken to prevent any flow of drugs in the institute,” the source added.
Authorities stress that these measures are not intended to inconvenience students but to prevent the recurrence of tragedies such as Nair’s death. With around 4,500 students and multiple hostels on campus, officials believe constant vigilance is essential to ensure safety and reassure parents.
The police presence at the gates is expected to continue as investigations proceed. The parcel monitoring system, combined with surveillance and advisory interactions with campus staff, marks a significant step in reinforcing campus security.
With five student deaths reported in less than a year, the institute has been under mounting pressure to strengthen its internal monitoring mechanisms. Recent measures — including the installation of 600 CCTV cameras across hostels and corridors, and now the gate-level screening of parcels — indicate that authorities are adopting a more proactive approach.
As the investigation into the student deaths continues, the latest police deployment underscores a clear message: every parcel, every entry, and every access point will now be monitored closely in an effort to ensure that drugs and other banned substances do not reach students on campus.
