Massive Protests Erupt in Guwahati after IIT Student Found Dead in Hostel Room
Students protest after an IIT student in Guwahati was found dead. Questions on the Institute’s mental health support systems and academic pressures have been raised.
A student from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, was found dead in his hostel room on Monday, resulting in a massive protest by students.
The student, 21, hails from Uttar Pradesh. His body was found hanging, and the police allege suicide. He was a third-year BTech student. He was pursuing the Computer Science and Engineering programme.
The student’s body was sent to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for a postmortem examination.
Some protesters say that academic pressures lead to the death of the student.
“IITG is deeply saddened to report the loss of a student from our community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the student's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time”, an institute spokesperson said.
“We encourage our student community to reach out to our support networks. IITG reaffirms its commitment to fostering a supportive and safe environment for all students,” the spokesperson added
This is the second such case within a month. A 23-year-old MTech student, again from Uttar Pradesh, was found dead exactly a year ago on August 9, 2023.
In April this year, a 20-year-old BTech student from Bihar was also found dead in his hostel room.
The increasing number of student deaths in a short period is alarming. At the protests, students are raising questions about the efficiency of mental health support systems at the premiere institute.
Some protesters allege that the student was distressed as he failed a course due to less attendance, which highlights academic pressures by the education system. They feel the authorities need to take more accountability.
Investigation into this case is underway.
