Guwahati: A third-year Computer Science student of the Indian Institute of Technology here was found dead in his hostel room on Monday, police said. The body of the male student, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was found in his room in the Brahmaputra Hostel, they said.
Investigation is underway, a police officer said, adding, the body has been sent for postmortem examination. This is the fourth death of a student in IITG this year. On August 9, a female student was allegedly found hanging in her room.
As the news of the death spread, a section of students gathered in front of the administration building, demanding justice for the deceased and necessary mental health support for those studying at IITG.
“The deceased student was suffering from physical health issues and was disturbed mentally. He was undergoing treatment and unable to concentrate on his studies,” a protesting student claimed.
The protesters alleged that though he had submitted the required medical certificates, it was not considered and he subsequently became more depressed.
The dean of students’ welfare held talks with the agitating students and assured them that their physical and mental well-being is IITG's top priority.
“IITG is deeply saddened to report the loss of a student from our community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the student's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time,” a spokesperson of the institute stated.
The well-being of students is the top priority of IITG and it is committed to providing support and resources to help students navigate the challenges they may face, he said.
"We encourage our student community to reach out to our support networks. IITG reaffirms its commitment to fostering a supportive and safe environment for all students," the spokesperson said.
“IITG remains dedicated to prioritising the mental health and well-being of our student community during these challenging times,” he added.