India, May 4 -- A civil engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur was found dead in his hostel room on Sunday, with preliminary investigations suggesting death by suicide, police said.

The deceased, a resident of Bihar, had reportedly planned to return home on Sunday. "His bags were found packed," an officer said.

"The door of the student's room at Madanmohan Malviya Hall was locked from the inside. An IIT staff member informed the police after a woman called the campus office," the officer added, requesting anonymity.

He further said that the student had apparently spoken to the caller over the phone shortly before dying by suicide. "The caller claimed to be a resident of Delhi," the officer said, addin...