Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, on Wednesday formed a five-member probe panel in the wake of a protest by students following the suicide of a student allegedly due to harassment by a faculty member. The panel also includes a former Director General of Police (DGP).
A second-year undergraduate student of the institution was found hanging in his hostel room on campus on April 21. The preliminary probe indicated that the deceased student may have had some issues arising out of his love affair with a woman, the officer said.
In the past one-and-a-half months, this is the fourth suicide case to be reported at IIT Madras.
In a statement, the institution said, "We are deeply anguished to convey the untimely passing away of an undergraduate student from the Chemical Engineering Department in the afternoon of April 21, 2023, in his hostel room. The institute has lost one of its own, and the professional community has lost a good student. The reason for its demise is unknown. The police are investigating. The parents have been informed."
It added that it is taking all possible measures to proactively identify and help students under stress.
Similar cases in the past
At least nine suicide cases were reported from IIT Madras between 2016 and 2019, according to sources. The list includes students from Kerala.
On March 14, 2023, a third-year B-Tech student atcommitted suicide. A post-graduate student of engineering at IIT-M also died by suicide on February 14, 2023. He, too, had been found dead in his hostel room.
Malappuram native Shahul Kornath, who was pursuing a B Tech-M Tech (dual degree) in Naval Architecture, took the extreme step in September 2018. Police said Shahul was under pressure because of attendance shortage. No suicide note was found in this case.
A first-year student of MA Humanities and Development Studies (Integrated), Kollam-native Fathima Latheef was found hanging in her hostel room on November 9, 2019. Fathima’s father, Abdul Latheef, had alleged that three teachers were responsible for her daughter's suicide. A few reports quoting police officials stated that Fathima ended her life because she was unable to cope with the academic pressure, but Abdul Latheef rejected them outright.