IIT Bombay students hold candlelight march demanding external probe into student death
A week after IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode died by suicide on September 18, students continuing their sit-in protest at the institute held a candlelight march on campus on Friday night to remember the second-year BTech student and others from the institute who have died by suicide in the past. Sahil, 20, died by suicide after he was allegedly found with a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.
During the peaceful march, protesting students carried a large poster listing 10 demands, including an independent probe and wider reforms in student welfare and disciplinary mechanisms. The students have sought the dissolution of the 10-member investigation committee constituted by the IIT Bombay Board of Governors, citing alleged concerns over its independence, and demanded it be replaced with an external panel with no current IIT Bombay employees or students. They have also reiterated their demand for the immediate suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who caught the alleged exam malpractice, from all responsibilities until the criminal investigation is concluded.
The students have demanded reforms in the Student Welfare Centre, including periodic audits and a medically qualified Dean of Students' Welfare. Their demands for changes to the Disciplinary Action Committee include greater transparency in proceedings, a system to track cases and a graded, reformative disciplinary framework. Additional demands include reconstitution of the SC/ST Cell in accordance with UGC norms, release of its reports from the past three years and action over alleged caste-based attacks on Wakode and his family.
