Missing grad student found dead

The body of Engineering graduate student Anirban Majumdar was found in the Schuylkill River beneath the Spring Garden Bridge on Sunday [Theodore Schweitz/The Daily Pennsylvanian]

A body pulled from the Schuylkill River was officially identified yesterday as missing Engineering graduate student Anirban Majumdar, ending a two-week search for the 25-year-old native of Calcutta, India.

Authorities said that there were no immediate signs of foul play, and have not yet determined whether the death was a suicide or an accident.

According to officials, Majumdar's body was spotted on Sunday morning by a Philadelphia Marathon spectator standing on the nearby Girard Avenue Bridge.

"The body was recovered about 8:30 a.m. by the Philadelphia Police marine unit near West River Drive and the Spring Garden Bridge," Philadelphia Police Officer Carmen Torres said.

Majumdar, who was last seen on Nov. 2, the night of his birthday, was found with his PennCard on him and close to $20 in his pocket. While authorities recovered Majumdar's body and personal effects on Sunday, the official identification was not made until yesterday by the Philadelphia medical examiner's office.

Officials yesterday would not speculate on the circumstances surrounding Majumdar's death, only saying that the medical examiner had ruled the cause to be drowning.

"It was confirmed that [it] was the body of our student," University spokeswoman Phyllis Holtzman said shortly after she was notified of the examiner's findings yesterday afternoon. "The medical examiner's office reports that the post-mortem exam showed no evidence of trauma or foul play."

According to Pat Brennan, Penn's director of special services, the body's level of decomposition leads investigators to believe that the body may have been in the river for a considerable period of time, possibly since the day he disappeared.

Brennan added that the results of toxicology tests can be expected within the next four weeks.

"The purpose of the toxicology tests is to attempt to answer all the questions," Brennan said.

"The case is still under investigation," added Jeff Moran, a spokesman for the medical examiner's office.

Majumdar was reported missing on Nov. 5 by Engineering graduate student Narayanan Mahesh, one of his four roommates on the 4500 block of Locust Street.

That day, Majumdar was scheduled to give a class presentation and when he did not appear later that night, Mahesh called University Police.

"The news is terrible, that he's not there anymore," said Engineering graduate student Prasanna Chaporkar, another one of Majumdar's roommates. "I'm in a kind of shock."

University President Judith Rodin issued a brief statement yesterday, expressing sorrow on behalf of the Penn community.

"We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our hearts go out to Anirban's family, friends and classmates," Rodin said.

Majumdar's roommates and his family in India were notified of the discovery of a body fitting his description Sunday evening by University officials.

"They came over and told us [that] the police had found a body and it seems in all likelihood that it was him," Mahesh said. "He had his ID in his wallet [and] he had his backpack."

Yesterday, University Chaplain William Gipson contacted Majumdar's mother in India to tell her that the body had been positively identified.

According to Leah Smith, spokeswoman for the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, School of Arts and Sciences adviser Srilata Gangulee translated Gipson's comments into Hindi.

Officials refused to speculate about what the next phase of the investigation would reveal. Determining whether his death was an accident or suicide, they said, will be difficult.

"The only thing we'll be able to tell at the end of the investigation is what didn't happen," Brennan said. "He could have jumped into the river... he could have slipped into the river."

"We will probably never know what happened," Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush added.

Despite all current evidence to the contrary -- according to Brennan, there were "no signs of struggle" -- Majumdar's roommates have found it hard to accept either an accident or a suicide as an explanation for their friend's death.

"If he knew he was going to do something in the night, then why did he have $20 in his pocket?" Mahesh said. "He had a daily routine."

According to Mahesh, who had seen his roommate the night of Nov. 2 at the Moore School building located at 230 S. 33rd St., Majumdar had said he would be home shortly.

Majumdar usually used PennTransit to go home, though the campus van service had no record of him riding that night.

"We are not convinced that it was a suicide," Chaporkar said. "We don't see any reason for Anirban to do so."

According to Smith, VPUL is coordinating a memorial service for Majumdar, but has not yet determined a date.

"We're working with Engineering and the Chaplain's office to prepare a memorial, but a date has not been set yet," Smith said.

Previous articles: 11/09/01 Engineering graduate student reported missing

11/13/01 Police still searching for missing student

11/15/01 Police search for leads in case of missing student

11/19/01 Body of missing grad student found in Schuylkill River

Comments (49)

This is a terrible news. I know Anirban for six years and I cannot imagine this is a suicide. University of Pennsylvania must conduct thorough investigation in the case. The investigators are already saying things like "The only thing we'll be able to tell at the end of the investigation is what didn't happen". This is hard to believe. Amit, Student College Park Maryland juneja@glue.umd.edu

I have known Anirban for the past 6 yrs and this case is definitely not suicide nor accident. It has to be investigated by Police more thoroughly. CK, S/w bangalore India ck_psc@yahoo.com

at first when i heard that he was missing, i thought it was a big joke or something. and when days kept passing by without any news, we were getting restless and then this terrible news. how did he end up in a river !!? i am pretty sure that it is not that easy to fall into a river!! and that too at that time of the night (expecting it happened on that night), and why did it have to be on the day of his birthday ? he had a great job back in india, he wished to study further and had come here. and he was having a great time here, so he wouldnt have committed suicide.. God, please help his family bear with the loss and may his soul rest in peace. praveen, student university of notre dame

I know Anirban from my school days (in addition to being distantly related to him). This is really tragic. I would encourage the authorities to really pursue this case and figure out for sure whether there was any foul play. Nandan Das, Engineer San Diego byomkesh@hotmail.com

It has been an absolute shock and I refuse to believe that my friend's death was an accident or suicide. Ishwinder Singh, Engineer Eatontown, NJ

Saying things like,"He could have jumped in the river or could have slipped in the river" can possibly avoid inconvenience of thoroughly investigating in the matter. But, as a person, I don't believe all these uncalled for ideas. I again urge the University and Police to not let the grip on the matter loosen due to unnecessary premeditation about the case. I know Anirban and I know that he was capable to do anything but the cowardly act of suicide. Rajat Shah, student champaign/IL/USA rshah3@uiuc.edu

This is really really shocking news. Anirban was a batchmate and a very good friend... and it's really difficult to accept that he's no more with us. We will miss you Anirban. But it is again unacceptable that US Law authorities and the University is taking such approach of "We will probably never know what happened". US Law authorities are believed to be efficient worldwide, with all kinds of technologies... and if they cannot even find what caused the death of a foreign student, then I doubt how safe we all are in the US. I urge the Police and the University to pursue the investigation to the fullest extent and get his family... and all of us the justice. Samya DasSarma Santa Clara,CA

I know anirban from more than last six years . he was my neighborer in my B.Tech. . he can do anything but can not even think to commit suicide. I request to the police and University,please not let down the investigation . Just because presuming that he committed suicide. please keep the investigation on.And find the culprit . pankaj, graduate student IIT G India

To those of you who are international friends of Anirban, who are following this sad story from IITs and homes overseas, please accept my condolences...many penn students here are truly sad and concerned about what happened, and though it may be difficult for police to ever figure it out, they will certainly try. Penn student

This is terrible news for our batch.Anirban was a cool guy with a good sense of humor. He was also quite studious .I have never seen him depressed all thru my undergrad.when we were together we always had fun. it is very depressing to us and really difficult to even imagine such a thing happened to him. He would never think of suicide. It is our sincere appeal to the authorities to investigate the matter further.May his soul rest in peace and GOD give courage to his family. kalyan, Student IIT chicago gummkal@iit.edu

This is a tremendous shock for all of us. As far as I know Anirban, there is no possible reason for him to commit suicide. The University police should conduct thorough investigation to reveal the fact. God bless his soul. Shubharthi Datta, Engineer California suva_d@lycos.com

This is so shocking .... I don't want to try putting it in words .... I have stayed with him for a year and I just can't believe he would commit suicide. He left this world with unfulfilled dreams. Hope the authorities would pursue this till the end. May GOD give courage to his family to cope up with this...and May his soul rest in peace. Gautam Chakrabarti, Student Michigan State University chakra10@msu.edu

I just taken aback...He was so cool minded and careful guy,that u can't expect suicide or something like that...I know him from 1996 and never seen him worried about anything!!! It cannot be a small loss to this world. This incident shud be seriously and thoroughly investigated!! ManBhawan, SoftEngg Bangalore,India manbhawanprasad@postmark.net

How can the investigators start with assumption that there was no foul play. This seems to be a pretext to close the case without going deep. There is no reason for Anirban to go near river at night, that too alone. If the investigators believe it was suicide, they should also come up with some reason for that. Its more than hard to believe that a person so succesful, so lively, as Anirban would commit suicide. If it was an accident, what prompted him to go near the river in the night. Instead of starting with assumption that there is no foul play unless proved otherwise, the investigation should proceed in opposite direction; that there is every reason to suspect and probe foul play unless proved otherwise. The way the investigations are proceeding, it seems that preposterous assumptions are being forced upon the case to shield the incompetency/lack of will of the investigators. Sanjeev Newar, Calcutta , India Student

I'm very surprised and hurt after reading comments made by Mr Rush, U.Penns VP for public safety. Indeed, it is very difficult for ppl knowing Anirban to accept his death. But, we are not foolish, we knew him much better and it seems very unlikely that Anirban can commit suicide. However, the powers-that-be seem to be already taking the line that this is an accident/suicide. Do the officials have any evidence that there might not have been foul play involved?? And, all these comments are being made when the medical examiner has not made his assesment. Can Mr. Rush and the Univ explain that while they seems eager to brush off any suggestion of foul play, do they have any evidence to the contrary? I would expect that the death of a perfectly "normal" human being should atleast be investigated properly. Avneesh Saxena Minneapolis

Some of the comments made by the authorities in this case are sad. A cold approach to solving mysteries is one thing (a good thing), yet utterances of prejudiced and equally cold statements is another(it shows a lack of enthusiasm towards getting down to one's duty). There are certainly lot's more things to be done. Let's do it. Let's not give a chance for anyone to ever complain about lack of effort. The Univ should understand that hushing up the case is detrimental to the univ's reputation compared to getting down to the minutest level of detail and putting everything together as a coherent explanation. Anil Krishna, Engineer, IBM RTP, North Carolina krishnaa@us.ibm.com

I wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Anirban Majumdar for this tragic loss. Anirban was my senior at IIT Guwahati and I have known him to be a strong-willed and determined person. I refuse to believe that he could have committed suicide. At this time of grief, the least we expect from the authorities is a thorough investigation �? not mere speculation. I hope and pray that justice will be met. Clint Mario Cleetus, Engineer Redwood Shores, CA

I was shocked to hear about the incident. Every effort must be made to know the true cause for it.May his soul rest in peace. I have known Anirban as a senior and always found him to be cheerful, helpful and cool. My sincere condolences to his family and close friends. It is an irreparable loss. Sekhar Putcha, student eugene, or putcha@cs.uoregon.edu

I was friends with Anirban for past 6 years. Anirban was a man of positive thinking, sharp intellect and lots of dreams. I can't even think of him contemplating suicide. I don't think he can drown either by an accident. I am sure that there is foul play involved here. If UPenn / downtown cops don't follow thru the investigation it would be an injustice to Anirban, his family and all friends. Anand, Software Engineer Phoenix anand_chavan@hotmail.com

My condolences go out to Anirban's family and friends. I too do not believe this was some freak accident. He was not walking towards the river. God Willing the truth of this incident will come to light. The Holy Qur'an 6:61. He is the irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers, and He sets guardians over you. At length, when death approaches one of you, Our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty. 62. Then are men returned unto Allah, their protector, the (only) reality: Is not His the command? and He is the swiftest in taking account. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, 156. Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return":- Norris norris7171@yahoo.com

Our heartfelt prayers and sympathy to the Majumdar family - We too are suffering the pain of the recent loss of a child ..May God comfort you. Mary and Kuncheria Joseph joseph34@home.com

Coming in terms with reality about Anirban not being there is heart breaking .... It has been one of the greatest loss to us his friends ....his partners in every activity for four years at IITG. I think this matter should not go down as a news material...and the university should take every possible action to get to the root of the cause. Even students of the university also has a responsibilty to come forward and demand a proper judicial inquiry and make sure that this unfortunate incident is not repeated again to them ... Vivek Sinha, Software Engineer Houston vivek.sinha@lycos.com

Its too shocking. I have known Anirban for quite some time. May GOD bless his soul. Ayana, Engineer Mumbai,India

A terrible shock indeed for all his friends including me having known Anirban for more than six years. I personally feel an investigation is never complete till we know "what did happen". Its shocking to see a bright and promising career ending in such an unfortunate and mysterious manner. This incident must be investigated thoroughly to bring justice to anirban's family and friends and necessary steps must be taken by the university to ensure safety of other students. Till the case is resolved, it will keep on haunting many minds what exactly happened with Anirban and are they safe ? Abhay

It is indeed very sad and shocking to receive such a news about a fellow college mate. I express my condolences to the Majumdar family on behalf of the alumni association of IITG. Sachin Bhatia, S/W Engineer Hughes Software Systems, India sabhatia@hss.hns.com