According to allegations, over 40 students have been failed due to attendance issues notwithstanding even medical conditions.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has been shaken by yet another alleged student suicide with a third-year B. Tech Computer Science student taking his own life on Sunday night.
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The student, identified as Bimlesh Kumar, hailed from Uttar Pradesh. While the exact reasons behind the suicide have not yet been confirmed, fellow students have come forward with claims that academic pressure and stringent attendance policies may have played a role.
Talking to GPlus, a student at IIT Guwahati alleged, “A professor failed over 40 students due to attendance issues, even those with serious medical conditions. Bimlesh, who had a backlog, took his own life because of this.”
Another student added, "From those 40 students, at least 30 had medical reasons that prevented them from attending classes. Yet, no consideration was given."
There is also outrage over the handling of the situation. According to one of Bimlesh's hostel mates, the student's body was left hanging for hours. “The guards said they couldn’t do anything without administration approval. We plan to protest against the institute,” the student said.
The incident has sparked further concerns among students, with one questioning, “Is suicide becoming the new normal for IIT Guwahati?”
This is the second such incident at the institute in a month. On August 9, a female M.Tech student, Soumya, was found hanging in her room in Disang Hostel. She too was a resident of Uttar Pradesh.
Condoling the death, IIT Guwahati said it is working closely with the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
A statement said the IIT Guwahati 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. .. IIT Guwahati reaffirms its commitment to fostering a supportive and safe environment for all students. Extended counselling support is available, enabling students to meet with counsellors after class hours if needed.,” the statement said.
