Mumbai: Massive protest at IIT Bombay in Powai after student found dead

IIT Bombay said it was deeply saddened by the student`s death. File Pic

A massive protest erupted at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) in Mumbai's Powai after a student was allegedly found dead in his room.

According to an official statement, a second-year student was found dead on Friday evening.

The incident came hours after the student was allegedly found using a mobile phone during an examination, the institute said.

"No disciplinary action was initiated against the student following the incident," IIT Bombay said.

The matter was discussed with the student by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career, according to the institute.

Student later found dead

Following the discussion, the student reportedly returned to his hostel room. He was later found dead in his room in the evening, the institute said.

IIT Bombay said it was deeply saddened by the student's death and that the circumstances surrounding the incident were being looked into by the appropriate authorities.

The institute also said it was extending support to the student's friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the death.

Students begin protest on campus

Some students who spoke on condition of anonymity said protests began at around 8.30 pm on Friday after news of the student's death spread across the campus.

A third-year bachelor's student, requesting anonymity, alleged that the movement of students in and out of the campus was being controlled.

"The inflow and outflow of students is being controlled. There is massive police security and students are even caught in a scuffle. We are not being let out of campus," the student said.

Sources claimed that hundreds of students were protesting at the IIT Bombay late into the night.

"Initially, a top official from the institute arrived at the site of the protest and tried to call the students into the hall. However, some students are still at the site protesting, while another group was with him in the hall," said another student.

The claims regarding the protest, police deployment and alleged restrictions on movement could not be independently verified.

Institute extends support to students

IIT Bombay said it was extending support to members of the campus community affected by the student's death.

The institute has also said that the circumstances surrounding the death are being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Further details are awaited.

Need help, here are suicide prevention helplines-

Samaritans Mumbai (Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm): 84229-84527

Connecting NGO (From 10 am to 8 pm): 9922004305/9922001122

Snehi (From 10 am to 10 pm): 9376804102

1 Life: 7893078930

Aasra: 9820466726