Home Minister Ali Ihusaan revealed today that an 18-year-old student, who died by suicide last Monday at Majududdin Hostel—the Maldives National University’s (MNU) student accommodation block—had been in communication with the police prior to the incident.
The death of the student at the hostel follows earlier public speculation that the individual had reached out to the police for assistance before the tragedy occurred.
Speaking at a press conference today, Ihusaan stated that the student had messaged the Police Victim Support Unit seven times. He further noted that the police had responded to the student twice during the exchange.
The Home Minister also clarified that the student was discovered after police arrived at the hostel to conduct a check.
"Since the lights in the room were turned off, officers looked through a window and observed the scene. The police then gained entry to the room through that window," Ihusaan said.
The timeline of communication between the student and the police is as follows:
The night of April 20
20:40 - Student: "I am so close to give up."
20:49 - Victim Support Unit: "Hi. Would you like to share with us?"
20:50 - Student: "I just can't control my thoughts."
20:53 - Student: "Please don't call anyone."
20:53 - Student: "I am okay. I am going to be okay."
20:53 - Student: "I have been okay."
20:53 - Student: "I am going for a walk."
00:38 - Student: "I am gone."
00:42 - Victim Support Unit: "What do you mean by that? How can I help you? Would you like to go to hospital or talk to me?"
00:57 - The student's Viber number went offline.
01:02 - Police contacted the student's brother to request assistance. It was discovered that the student had messaged the brother at 00:36, stating, "I am not bothered."
01:03 - The Victim Support Unit contacted Police Command requesting officers be dispatched to the hostel.
01:04 - The Duty Investigation Officer of the Family and Child Protection Department received the information.
01:08 - Police arrived at the hostel.
01:14 - Efforts were underway to identify the student's specific room.
01:32 - The room was identified. Upon looking through the window, officers discovered the scene.
