The mother of a 20-year-old student from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, who reportedly died by suicide, revealed on Tuesday that her son had communicated experiences of “torture” and “casteism”. This statement has sparked renewed discussions about the challenges faced by students in prestigious institutions, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.
The student allegedly died by suicide on Friday and an FIR was registered in the incident and the investigation was transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch, led by an assistant commissioner of police (ACP)-level officer. The parents of the student alleged caste-based discrimination and pressure on their son in the campus, said police on Saturday. They also protested at the institute’s campus on Saturday morning, demanding action in the case. The student allegedly died by suicide on Friday in his hostel after he was allegedly caught cheating during an examination.
The father of the student alleged that the claim of his son cheating in an exam on the same day he was found dead was an attempt to divert attention. “The accused in the case should be questioned and arrested.
Only after the arrest will everything come out,” he said. However, no suicide note was found from the spot, police said.
They were taken to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar around 1.30 pm on Saturday, where the student’s body was kept, according to police.
However they initially refused to claim the body until they eventually did after a thorough investigation into the matter was promised, police said.
