Agencies | Mumbai:
A second-year BTech student allegedly died by suicide at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay campus in Powai on Friday, following an incident in which he was found using a mobile phone during an examination, according to the institute.
In an official statement, IIT Bombay said the student had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.
The institute said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the student. It added that he had been counselled by the instructor and the Head of Department, who assured him that the incident would not affect his academic career.
Following the student’s death, a section of students gathered on campus and staged a protest, demanding greater accountability and transparency from the institute administration.
Police personnel were deployed on the campus as students and the administration held discussions over the concerns raised by the protesters.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Dattatray Nalawade said an investigation into the student’s death was underway.
“Today, a student died by suicide at IIT Powai. Following this, some IIT students gathered and started a protest over their demands. The IIT administration is holding discussions with them to reach an amicable solution,” Nalawade told reporters, according to news agency ANI.
Asked about the nature of the students’ demands, the DCP said they related to internal administrative issues that had also been raised with the institute in the past.
He said the administration was continuing to engage with the protesting students.
“The students have internal administrative issues which the IIT administration has addressed in the past as well, and the administration is actively speaking with the students right now too,” Nalawade said.
According to the DCP, some protesters had dispersed while others remained on the campus as discussions continued.
“Some students are still protesting, and efforts are being made to speak with them as well,” he said.
One of the protesting students said the demonstration was triggered by the student’s death and concerns over what he described as similar incidents on campus.
“The reason for our protest today is that a suicide took place in our college today. That is why we have gathered to protest, to demand accountability, transparency, and answers from our administration,” the student said.
The student alleged that the incident was not the first such tragedy at the institute, claiming that four such incidents had occurred during the year and two in the preceding two months. The claim could not be independently verified.
He said students wanted greater clarity about the circumstances surrounding such incidents and called for corrective measures by the administration.
The student also raised concerns about the conduct of some professors towards students.
“First, the administration must be held answerable. Professors who mistreat students or behave harshly need to be held in check,” he said.
He further demanded that the Dean, Director and administration issue a report assuring students that the matter would be examined and that mechanisms for accountability and transparency would be strengthened.
“We simply want the Dean, the Director, and the administration to provide a report assuring us that they will look into the matter, ensure accountability and transparency, and guarantee that such incidents do not happen again on their watch,” he said.
Another student, however, urged his peers to focus on grieving the death rather than allowing the situation to develop into a confrontation between students and the administration.
“All of us are deeply devastated. It is shocking and heartbreaking. Whatever happened, it feels like he was one of us, and someone among us has been left behind,” the student said.
He appealed to students not to assign blame while the campus was dealing with the tragedy.
“I don’t think we should be blaming anyone at a moment like this. I feel that everyone is going through something; everyone has struggles in their mind. I don’t think we should be pointing fingers at each other,” he said.
The student expressed concern that the situation was increasingly turning into an “Administration vs. Students” conflict and called for unity.
“Right now, it is turning into an ‘Administration vs. Students’ conflict. What we really need is to stand together at this moment,” he said.
Police remained deployed on the IIT Bombay campus as discussions between the administration and students continued.
