On Friday night, students at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) organized a candlelight march to honor a second-year student who died by suicide one week ago. The march began at the Justice Corner near the main gate and concluded at hostel 4, where the student resided. Protesters are calling for a change in the team handling the investigation into the incident, expressing their concerns about the current process.
The incident triggered protests on campus, with students demanding an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death. On September 19, a 22-year-old IIT-Bombay student was found dead in his hostel room number 4 , however, police said that no suicide note was recovered from the spot.
Protesters Demand Reforms and Justice at IIT-Bombay
Protesters at IIT-Bombay are calling for significant reforms within the SC/ST Cell. They are urging for the cell to be restructured in accordance with UGC guidelines and for the release of its reports from the past three years. Additionally, demonstrators are pressing for the completion of pending SC/ST faculty recruitment positions.
The students have also raised concerns about alleged caste-based harassment aimed at the deceased student and his family, both on social media and within the campus environment. They insist that these incidents must be addressed promptly.
Furthermore, the protesters are demanding that the family of the deceased be permitted to visit the IIT-Bombay campus safely to meet with students and administration officials.
Because some members had publicly supported Prof Suryanarayana Doolla before the inquiry concluded, the protesting students demanded that the existing investigation committee be dissolved, alleging concerns over its independence.
The students also demanded that Prof Doolla be suspended from all responsibilities until the criminal investigation is completed. The students also demanded reforms in the Students’ Welfare Committee. They sought regular audits every six months, with the reports made public, and demanded that the Dean of Students’ Welfare be a medical professional.
