Twenty Year Old IIT Guwahati Student Found Dead in Hostel; Cops Suspect Suicide
IIT Guwahati student found dead in hostel, suspected suicide. Student's note says no foul play. Family blames institute, seeks probe. Latest in string of IIT suicides raising mental health concerns.
An IIT Guwahati student allegedly died by suicide in his room on Wednesday night at Dihing hostel. He was twenty years old.
Police say that his body was found by security guards while his roommate was away.
A note was also found which was sent for forensic analysis.
“He stated in the note that no one is responsible for his death. Prima facie, it does not look like any foul play is involved. However, we are continuing our investigation to find more details,” Kamrup's Superintendent of Police, Ranjan Bhuyan told PTI.
The family of the victim has blamed the institution for negligence and has ordered a probe into the case. Police suspect that the student killed himself due to stress.
“We are investigating all possible angles and awaiting the autopsy report,” police said.
Meanwhile IIT Guwahati has issued a statement concerning the unfortunate death: “It is with deep regret that IIT Guwahati shares the unfortunate news of the death of a male student on campus on 10th April. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, and we are providing them with the necessary support during this difficult time. The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident. Our thoughts are with the grieving family. Keeping the privacy of the student and sensitivity of this incident in consideration, the media is requested to maintain discretion while reporting on this incident.”
The post mortem procedure has been completed and the body has been handed to his family who hail from Samastipur in Bihar.
There has been an alarming rise in suicide cases at the Indian Institutes of Technology. In February 2024, an M Tech student in IIT Delhi was found dead in his hostel room.
A fourth year girl student from IIT Guwahati was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state after a New Year’s Eve party. She was declared dead on arrival by the Doctors.
The increasing number of suicide cases point towards academic stress, students’ mental health and their overall wellbeing.