institute in delhi closed due to "ghost"

check this out

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...how/858414.cms

'Ghost' forces institute to close
SHIVANI SINGH

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2004 03:01:18 PM ]

NEW DELHI: Students of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Delhi are not studying the laws of probability these days. They are visiting temples, studying the paranormal.


There have been no classes at the Delhi ISI since Friday, and students have been sent home on a week’s unofficial holiday. The reason is even more unofficial — there’s a ghost on campus.

The ‘ghost’ is elusive. He hasn’t been seen yet, but he knocks on doors, jostles students on the staircases, and reportedly leaves whiffs of aftershave and cigarette smoke.

The aftershave has helped students ‘identify’ the ghost. It is an old classmate, a first-year M Stat student who died suddenly in class on August 24. For classmates who saw him die, it was, understandably, a harrowing and inexplicable tragedy. But doctors say the boy had a rare heart condition, and the death was a typical manifestation of the disorder.

Now students think their classmate is back. "A girl who never smokes felt a strong stench of cigarettes in her bathroom. The boy who died used to smoke a lot," said Saptrishi, ISI student representative.

Many others say the whole place smells of the dead boy’s deodorant and aftershave. "All sorts of sounds are being heard in the hostel. Students got panicky," said Soubik Roy, a classmate of the dead boy.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...14,curpg-2.cms

No classes are being held at the Indian Statistical Institute in Delhi since Friday.


"All sorts of sounds are being heard in the hostel. Students got panicky. So we suggested to the authorities to shut the institute for some time. No classes are taking place. Out of 19 M Stat first year students, 13 have gone home," said Soubik Roy, a classmate of dead boy.

Roy and Saptrishi are the brave ones who have stayed back. The authorities are doing their bit at ghostbusting.

"A fear psychosis had gripped some students. We thought it was best to allow them to go home if they wanted to. We are carrying on with classes but not teaching anything new," said Rajeeva Karandikar, head of ISI’s Delhi centre.

"Compared to other institutes, ISI hostel has low occupancy. If such a tragedy happens, shock and fear grip all. It is difficult to control it. But we are trying our best to fight it," said a professor at ISI.

So when students wanted to visit a temple, the institute provided a vehicle.

But authorities are not sure about a tantrik puja.

ISI old-timers are not too happy with the institute’s handling of the case. "About four years ago, a girl had committed suicide in the ISI hostel but no one reacted so hysterically," said Sandipan Ray, a former Ph D student.

The rationalists are derisive, naturally.

"It is sad that economists, who are students of science, should make it an issue. They should not give in to such wild fears and mass hysteria.

Usually there is one beginning to these stories. A person with some fear psychosis must have started it. The rest must have followed," said Sanal Edamaruku, of the Indian Rationalists Association.

[bourny3]

That sent shivers up my spine, but i got over it.