On September 18, an IIT Bombay student tragically died by suicide. In response to this incident, the student’s parents spent eight hours at the Mumbai Crime Branch office located in Bandra West on Friday. This visit comes as they seek answers and clarity regarding their child’s death.
The parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination at the institute and also staged a hunger strike at Azad Maidan on Thursday. The police are also trying to access the deceased student’s locked mobile phone amid the ongoing probe. Forensic experts were trying to access the device, he was quoted as saying. IIT Bombay faculty member Suryanarayan Doolla , named in the police FIR which alleges abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination, has been sent on leave to facilitate an impartial probe into the case. After reportedly waiting for about an hour, they were taken to the Sahyadri Guest House, a government guest house in Mumbai, where NCSC chairperson Kishor Makwana was meeting them. Makwana visited IIT Bombay too.
On Thursday, when the parents were travelling towards the main gate of IIT Bombay to continue their protest, Mumbai Police stopped them around 5 km from the campus.
The victim’s mobile phone is reportedly secured with a pattern lock, restricting access, though several missed call notifications were visible on the display screen, a police official said.
