Kolkata: A third-year student of IIT-Kharagpur was found dead inside his hostel room, officials of the institute said on Monday.
Investigations have been launched in this connection, police said. Medinipur MP June Malia said she wants to raise the issue in Parliament.
Shaon Malik (21), student of Electrical Engineering, was found dead inside room number 302 of 'Azad Hall' by his parents, who had come to meet him on Sunday.
His parents and institute personnel had to forcibly open the door of the hostel room after he did not respond to repeated calls, the official said. On information, a team from Kharagpur Town police station reached the spot and the body was sent to Medinipur Medical College for autopsy.
According to police sources, the deceased hailed from Khukurdaha area in Daspur police station area of Paschim Medinipur district. He was known as a polite and and well behaved boy. Shaon was a brilliant student, loved by all his teachers and was associated with drama club, institute officials said.
It has been learnt that Malik had spoken to his parents over phone the previous night and “things seemed perfectly normal”, an official said.
An internal probe will be conducted by the institute, he said. The post-mortem has been completed and the process was videographed, he added.
IIT Kharagpur expresses grief:
Condoling the death, IIT Kharagpur, in a statement said, "With a sense of utter shock, the students, staff and faculty members deeply mourn the sudden loss of Shaon Malik, a third-year student from the Department of Electrical Engineering. He was found dead in Azad Hall of Residence premises on the morning of January 12."
"Upon discovery of the incident, the campus security and medical teams were immediately alerted... The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Malik's death. The institute is fully cooperating with the authorities," it said.
Describing Malik as an academically gifted student, the institute stated, "he was known for his intelligence, dedication and promising future in the field of Electrical Engineering”.
"The institute is devastated by this tragic event. Our foremost priority at this moment is to extend our heartfelt condolences and support to Malik's family and friends. We are providing all necessary assistance to help them through this incredibly difficult time,” the statement said.
IIT-Kharagpur said it is committed to the well-being and mental health of its students. "We have a range of support services available, including counselling and mental health resources, and we urge students to utilise these services whenever needed," it said.
MP demands thorough probe:
Expressing her grief, Trinamool MP June Malia said, "The incident is very unfortunate but a proper investigation is needed. IIT has its own committee, which is under the Central government. The Center should quickly form another team to probe into the incident. If I get a chance, I will take up the matter in the Lok Sabha."
Some recent incidents at IIT Kharagpur:
- On October 14, 2022, another IIT Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed died mysteriously. He was a resident of Tinsukia in Assam. Even after two post-mortems, the cause of his death is still unclear.
- In October 2023, the body of a fourth-year student of Electrical Engineering, Kiran Chandra, was recovered.
- In June 2024, body of Devika Pillai, a third-year student of Biotechnology and Bioscience was found in the campus.
Suicide is not a solution: If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 9152987821, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.
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