What Happened to the Romanian PhD Student Found Dead?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Philip Francisca was a Romanian PhD student at BHU.
- She was found dead in her rented accommodation under suspicious circumstances.
- Authorities are investigating her health background, including epilepsy.
- Her family has been contacted through the Romanian Embassy.
- Police have seized documents as part of the investigation.
Varanasi, September 13 (NationPress) A Romanian doctoral candidate in Indian Philosophy at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was discovered deceased under suspicious conditions at her rented apartment in Varanasi, as reported by the police on Saturday.
The victim was identified as 27-year-old Philip Francisca, who had been living in a room located within the Chowk police station jurisdiction.
As per authorities, when Francisca did not respond to persistent knocks on her door late on Friday night, her landlord notified the police.
Officers arrived, used a duplicate key to open the room, and found her unresponsive on the bed.
ACP Atul Anjan Tripathi from Dashashwamedh Ghat informed the press, "We received the report yesterday and proceeded to the scene. During our inquiry, her friends informed us that her name is Philip Francisca and that she hails from Romania. She was a student at BHU and had been residing here for several years."
Authorities confirmed that no notes or medications were found in the room, although initial investigations indicated that Francisca had a medical background.
"We learned from her friends that she had been dealing with epilepsy since childhood and had been adhering to a regular medication regimen. Forensic evidence has been collected, and the autopsy report will determine the cause of death," Tripathi mentioned.
Officials have contacted Francisca's family through the Romanian Embassy, and her remains will be returned once her relatives arrive in India.
Police also confiscated her passport, visa, and mobile phone as part of the investigation.
It was noted that Francisca held a valid visa until 2027 and had been living in Varanasi for an extended period, following previous studies in Surat and Amritsar.
Further investigations are ongoing, with additional details expected soon.