Varanasi: A Romanian student pursuing a PhD in Indian Philosophy at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her rented accommodation in Varanasi, police said on Saturday.
The deceased has been identified as 27-year-old Philip Francisca, who resided in a room under the jurisdiction of Chowk police station.
According to officials, when Francisca did not respond to repeated knocks on her door late Friday night, her landlord alerted the police. Officers arrived at the scene, used a duplicate key to open the room, and discovered her lying motionless on the bed.
ACP Dashashwamedh Ghat, Atul Anjan Tripathi, told reporters, “Yesterday, we received the information and reached the spot. Friends of the deceased informed us that her name is Philip Francisca and that she is from Romania. She was a student at BHU and had been living here for many years.”
Police confirmed that no notes or medicines were recovered from the room, though preliminary inquiries revealed that Francisca had a medical history. “We also learned from her friends that she had been suffering from epilepsy since childhood and took medicines regularly. Forensic samples have been collected, and the post-mortem report will clarify the cause of death,” Tripathi added.
Authorities stated that Francisca’s family has been contacted through the Romanian Embassy, and her mortal remains will be handed over once her relatives arrive in India.
Police have seized her passport, visa, and mobile phone as part of the investigation. Officials said she had a valid visa until 2027 and had been living in Varanasi for a considerable period, following earlier study stints in Surat and Amritsar.
Further investigations are underway, and more details are awaited.
With IANS inputs