Guwahati, Sept 9: Concerned over the ‘mental harassment’ and pressure for studies that has led to 2 deaths within 30 days at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, the students of the premiere institute on Monday staged a protest following suicide by a fellow student in his hostel room.

Bhimlesh Kumar, a third-year Computer Science student at IIT Guwahati, was found dead in his room at the Brahmaputra Hostel on Monday. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Bhimlesh’s body was reportedly hanging for 10 hours even after discovery.

Expressing frustration, more than 3,000 students gathered in front of the institute’s administrative building to protest over alleged negligence, lack of urgency and empathy on the part of the authorities.

They believe that the student took his life due to mental harassment, study pressure, and pressure from the authorities.

“The body of the student was hanging in the hostel room for 10 hours as the hostel guard did not open the gate,” one of the protesting students pointed out.

This is the second death of a student in IITG within 30 days. On August 9, a female student was allegedly found hanging in her room.

The students also alleged that the campus has become a “suicidal campus” due to the mounting mental pressure, resulting in 12 suicides in the campus in the last 3 years. They said each of these cases were related to stress and pressure placed on students by the institution.

The students also demanded for a thorough investigation into the role of the administration in creating an environment that the students describe as mentally taxing.

The protesters further called for immediate reforms to address the mental health crisis and for the institute to prioritize student well-being, including more accessible counselling services and a shift in the approach to academic pressure.

Meanwhile, press statement by IIT Guwahati said: “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.”

It said the institute places the well-being of students as its top priority is committed to providing support and resources to help students navigate the challenges they may face.

“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 statement further said.

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