A 20-year-old college student, identified as Teju, allegedly died by suicide after entering Sankey Lake in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru, on the evening of Monday, 7 July. Her body was recovered the following morning, and police are investigating whether personal distress — including a reported dispute with her boyfriend and emotional fallout from her parents' separation — contributed to the incident.

What the CCTV Footage Showed

According to the Sadashivanagar Police, Teju left her college in the Chikkabanavara area at around 3.50 pm on Monday and subsequently made her way to Sankey Lake. CCTV footage from the lake premises reportedly shows her walking around the area for several hours. Investigators believe she purchased a bottle of water before entering the lake. She is said to have left her bag — containing her mobile phone and other belongings — near the entrance gate before walking along the footpath and entering the water.

The Message That Triggered the Search

Before the incident, Teju allegedly sent a message to her boyfriend stating that she was ending her life. The boyfriend reportedly forwarded the message to her mother, prompting the family to intensify their search and alert the police. Relatives rushed to Sankey Lake that night but were unable to locate her in the darkness.

'We came here at night after learning that she had sent a message saying she was going to die. We searched for her but could not find her in the darkness. We raise our children with great difficulty, but they sometimes take irreversible decisions,' a close relative of the deceased said.

Her body was spotted floating in the lake on Tuesday morning by a security guard, who immediately alerted the Sadashivanagar Police. Officers recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem examination. A Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team also visited the site and conducted a detailed forensic examination.

Background: Family Circumstances and Relationship

Preliminary enquiries revealed that Teju's parents had divorced and that she had been living with her mother, who is employed with Namma Metro. Investigators noted that she had reportedly been emotionally affected by her parents' separation and had often expressed that she missed her father's affection.

Police are also examining her relationship with her boyfriend. The couple had reportedly quarrelled approximately 15 days before the incident. Although family members had counselled her and encouraged her to move on, investigators are probing whether the dispute played any role. The boyfriend has been traced, questioned, and his statement recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.

Investigation Status

No suicide note has been recovered, and the exact reason behind the incident is yet to be officially ascertained. A case has been registered at the Sadashivanagar Police Station, and further investigation is underway. Teju was a resident of Peenya, Bengaluru, and was pursuing her graduation at the time of her death.

This incident has renewed calls for stronger mental health support systems in educational institutions, particularly for students navigating family breakdown and relationship stress.

If you or someone you know is in distress, please reach out to iCall at 9152987821 or Vandrevala Foundation Helpline at 1860-2662-345 (available 24/7).