IIT Guwahati suicide: Dean resigns, Director requests students to return to classes

On Monday, a 21-year-old from Uttar Pradesh who was in the Computer Science and Engineering programme was found dead in his room. The body has been sent for post-mortem and the circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated, police said.

The recent incident triggered a mass protest outside the administrative building at IIT Guwahati, where students claimed that academic pressures had led to this student’s death. The protestors are demanding the Dean and the Director to meet them and address their concerns. Following this demand, Prof Jalihal had a one-on-one discussion with the students yesterday for several hours and has taken cognizance of their issues and concerns. “As a new Director who has taken charge recently, he is committed to resolving these issues and ensuring overall student well-being on this campus,” an official statement said.

“As for the Dean who has sent his resignation, the institute authorities have received his resignation, and we are discussing this internally. A decision will be taken soon,” the statement added.

This is the third such incident in IIT Guwahati this year. On August 9, a 23-year-old from Uttar Pradesh who was an MTech student of the institute, was found dead in her hostel room. Before that, in April, a 20-year-old BTech student from Bihar was also found dead in his hostel room, in a suspected case of death by suicide.

Acknowledging that there is a need for change, IIT Guwahati has announced a few new measures. The institute has decided to expand wellbeing services and will include specialised counsellors for both crisis intervention and long-term assistance.

IIT Guwahati is also establishing peer support groups, offering everyone a safe and confidential space to share their experiences and receive support from their peers. Further, the institute is conducting a comprehensive review of the safety and emergency response protocols, which includes an assessment of well-being resources to strengthen support systems and enhance campus safety, the institute said. Several campaigns to promote open communication are also being initiated.

“While understanding and acknowledging the concerns of the students, it is crucial to prioritise academic continuity and maintain a peaceful campus. Therefore, we request all to refrain from protests and return to their classrooms. By focusing on their studies and utilizing the available support resources, we can collectively work towards a more positive and productive learning environment,” the Director said.