Kochi: A 20-year-old engineering student from Arunachal Pradesh was found dead at a rented house in Kothamangalam near here, police said on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Michi Marpu of Naharlagun in Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh. He was a third-year B Tech student at MA College of Engineering, Kothamangalam.

According to police, Marpu was found lying on the floor with a rope tied around his neck at the rented house in Kozhipilly, where he lived with his college mates, on Saturday evening.

He was rushed to Kothamangalam Taluk Hospital, where doctors declared him dead, police said.

Police suspect that Marpu may have attempted to hang himself from the roof of the room, but the rope broke, following which he was found on the floor.

A three-page note written in English and Hindi was also recovered from his room, police said.

Police said Marpu may have taken the extreme step fearing that he would lose an academic year after scoring low marks in a few subjects. However, a detailed investigation is required to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death, they said.

Students of the college have decided to stage a protest, alleging that the minimum credit requirement at the institution is higher than that in other engineering colleges in the state.

SFI and KSU leaders at the college said the institution, which follows an autonomous scheme, has fixed the minimum credit requirement at 22 credits, compared to 18 credits in colleges affiliated to Kerala Technological University.

There was no immediate reaction from the college.

Police said the postmortem would be conducted after the deceased's relatives reach Kothamangalam.

Kothamangalam police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating.