Ranchi- The death of a first-year BTech student at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Ranchi, has triggered protests on campus, with students alleging administrative negligence, inadequate hostel facilities and delays in emergency medical assistance.
The agitated students staged demonstrations at the institute’s hostel in Khelgaon, prompting the administration to call the police to bring the situation under control. They demanded improvements in hostel facilities and the resignation of institute Director Rajiv Srivastava.
The protesters also blocked the Khelgaon-Tatisilwai road, leading to long queues of vehicles on both sides. Police personnel and institute officials attempted to pacify the students as tensions escalated.
The deceased student, identified as Aditya, was a resident of Naugachia in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district. He was found hanging in his hostel room on Saturday night and was subsequently taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Following the incident, students raised concerns over the alleged lack of basic amenities in the hostel and the availability of timely medical assistance during emergencies. They held the institute administration responsible for what they described as poor hostel management and demanded the director’s resignation.
Director Rajiv Srivastava attempted to address the protesting students, but his interaction reportedly failed to calm them and was followed by further agitation.
Speaking to the media, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan said a preliminary investigation was underway.
An FSL team had collected evidence from the scene, while the student’s roommate had also recorded a statement, he said. The police were examining all possible circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The institute director said Aditya had enrolled in the first year in August and was appearing for his mid-semester examinations.
According to Srivastava, the power supply had gone out during the night, after which the student allegedly locked his room from the inside. His classmates subsequently opened the door and brought him out. The director said the student was taken to the hospital in an ambulance available on the campus, but doctors declared him dead.
He added that the institute would review whether corrective measures were needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of the incident and called for an investigation into allegations of administrative negligence.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said on social media that the Commission was taking up the matter. He called for a probe into the alleged delay in medical treatment, possible administrative lapses and the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the incident and the concerns raised by students over emergency medical arrangements and hostel management.
–IANS