‘Assured career wouldn’t be affected’: What IIT-Bombay said on student’s suicide

Protest at IIT-Bombay (ANI Photo)

MUMBAI: The instructor and Head of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering counselled a second-year student and assured him that an incident in which he was found using a mobile phone during an examination would not adversely affect his academic career, said IIT-Bombay in a statement issued after protests rocked the campus on Friday.The student died by suicide later in the evening, hours after he was found using the phone during the examination, the institute saidAccording to the statement, he had uploaded the examination question paper on AI platform to seek answers.IIT-Bombay said no disciplinary action was initiated against the student."A second-year student of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay died by suicide today evening.Earlier in the day, during an examination, the student was found using a mobile phone in the exam hall. He had uploaded the examination question paper on AI platform to seek answers.No disciplinary action was initiated against the student. The matter was also 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.

The student subsequently returned to his hostel room. Later in the evening, he was found dead in his room."Students gathered in large numbers on the campus following the death and demanded a detailed probe into the circumstances that led to the suicide.They alleged that the authorities were not focusing on their mental health concerns.According to news agency ANI, DCP Dattatray Nalawade said that the investigation in the case 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," he told reporters.Asked about the nature of the students' demands, the DCP said, "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."He added that while some protesters had dispersed, others remained on the ground as talks continued."Some students are still protesting, and efforts are being made to speak with them as well," he said.