IIT Bombay sets up 10-member panel to probe BTech student's death

IIT Bombay has set up a 10member highlevel committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of BTech student last week an official said on Wednesday reported the PTIMeanwhile the faculty member who has been named in the FIR alleging abetment to suicide and caste discrimination has been sent on leave to facilitate an impartial probe sources said the news agency reportedThe institutes Board of Governors constituted the committee on Wednesday to examine the circumstances surrounding the students death The panel is also expected to question the faculty member as part of its inquiryThe move comes alongside the ongoing Mumbai Crime Branch investigation into the caseFaculty member sent on leaveThe faculty member has been sent on leave to ensure that the internal inquiry can be conducted independently sources said He had earlier been removed from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs following protests over the students death according to the PTIThe move does not by itself establish any wrongdoing against faculty member The allegations against him remain under investigationThe Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating students death and has said the probe is being conducted diligently and impartially while examining all possible anglesPolice have appealed to the public and media to avoid speculation misinformation and premature conclusions and have asked the media to rely on information released through official channelsParents allege castebased discriminationThe deceased students parents have alleged that their son had told them about castebased slurs and discrimination They have demanded the arrest of those named in the case including faculty memberThe allegations have not been established and are being examined as part of the ongoing investigationStudents deathA secondyear BTech student was found dead in his hostel room on the IIT Bombay campus on the evening of September 18His death occurred hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a midsemester examinationThe circumstances surrounding the examination incident and events that followed are being examined by the Crime BranchRaj Thackeray comments on caste allegationsMNS president Raj Thackeray said the education system needed to address the pressures faced by students Referring to the allegations of caste discrimination he said caste had become a subject of ldquopower politicsrdquo and urged students not to get drawn into political divisions as per the PTIHis comments came amid protests and demands for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding students deathABVP seeks action after probeThe Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ABVP called for a thorough investigation and said action should be taken against anyone found responsible after the inquiryABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said taking action before establishing the facts would not be appropriate He said the organisation had demanded an investigation and that those found responsible should face action after the probe is completed reported the PTIwith PTI inputs