A Ph.D student of Jawaharlal Nehru University was found dead in his hostel room on Tuesday.

J.R. Philemon, a native of Senapati district of Manipur, was staying in the Brahmaputra hostel and pursuing his Ph.D in West Asia studies, the police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ishwar Singh said Philemon was not seen by other students for the past three days.

While no one suspected anything amiss all these days, some students of the hostel complained of foul smell emanating from his room on Tuesday evening.

“The students informed the university staff, who alerted us. We broke open the door in the presence of students and staff and found Philemon’s decomposed body in the room,” Mr. Singh said.

No suicide note

While no suicide note has been found, the DCP said the most likely cause of the death was overdose of alcohol.

“The deceased was a heavy drinker. That appears to have caused his death. Since his hostel room was found locked from inside, there does not seem to be any foul play,” said Mr. Singh. No external injury marks were found on the victim's body.

Given the extent of decomposition of the body, Philemon was dead for at least two days, the police said.

The body was sent for post mortem and the exact cause of the death would be known only after the autopsy report is received, the police said.

The police have recorded the statements of people known to the deceased as well as those who were present at the time of breaking open of the hostel door.

No case was registered till late on Tuesday night.