Hyderabad, Feb 21 (IANS): A student from Jammu and Kashmir, studying for his PhD at IIT-Hyderabad, allegedly committed suicide at Hyderabad Central University here Friday, police said.

Tariq-ul-Islam, the 27-year-old son of Ghulam Mohammad Dhobi and a resident of Dhobipora in Ganderbal district was found hanging in a hostel room in HCU, where he had gone to meet his friends.

According to police, Islam Thursday night went to meet his two friends -- Tauseef Ahmad of Barsoo Awantipora (Pulwama district) and Sajad Ahmad Bhat of Yaripora (Kulgam) -- both students of the central university at their hostel.

He told his friends he was going for Friday prayers but went to another room and allegedly committed suicide.

The reason for the suicide could not be immediately known but police suspect that the student took the extreme step due to depression.

Police said they were questioning Islam's friends to ascertain the actual reasons behind the extreme step.

Islam, a former student of Kashmir University and Hyderabad Central University, was a doctoral fellow in the Department of Liberal Arts at IIT-Hyderabad at Kandi in neighbouring Medak district.