Arunachal Pradesh student found dead in Kerala, minister promises detailed probe

Kochi: An Arunachal Pradesh native studying at an engineering college in Kothamangalam near here was found dead in the room of a rented house, police said on Sunday. Higher Education Minister Roji M John told reporters that a detailed probe would be conducted into the incident. The deceased was identified as Michi Marpu (20), of Naharlagun in the Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh, and a BTech student at MA College of Engineering, Kothamangalam.

According to police, Marpu was found lying on the floor with a rope tied around his neck at the rented house where he lived with his college mates at Kozhipilly near Kothamangalam on Saturday evening. Though he was rushed to the Kothamangalam Taluk Hospital, doctors declared him dead, police said.

Police recover three-page note in student death case

Police suspect that Marpu had attempted to hang himself from the roof of the room, but the rope broke, following which he was found lying on the floor. A three-page suicide note, written in English and Hindi, was recovered from his room, police said. However, its contents were not immediately known.

Police said Marpu may have taken the extreme step fearing that he would lose a year due to a low academic credit score. A detailed probe is required to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death, police said. Students at the college staged a protest, alleging that the minimum credit requirement at the college is higher than that at other engineering colleges in the state.

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Students protest 22-credit requirement

SFI and KSU leaders at the college told reporters that as the institution follows an autonomous scheme, it has set the minimum credit requirement at 22 credits, compared to 18 at colleges affiliated with Kerala Technological University. They said that even after the year-back system was suspended by KTU, it was still being implemented at MA College of Engineering.

Muvattupuzha Deputy SP K R Manoj said that following the protest, student representatives held discussions with the college management. Student representatives told reporters that the management agreed to consider their demands, including suspending the year-back system, conducting supplementary examinations and reducing supplementary examination fees.

College Principal Bos Mathew Jose told reporters that the demands would be considered and further steps would be taken. Police said the post-mortem examination would be conducted on Monday after the parents arrived on Sunday evening. Kothamangalam police have registered a case of unnatural death and are conducting an investigation.

Minister assures thorough probe into student death

Minister John said the student's death was an unfortunate incident and assured that a proper investigation would be conducted. "In any case, a student committing suicide in this manner is deeply unfortunate. A proper investigation will be conducted into this. At the department level, I will contact the university and officially request it to conduct an inquiry into the matter," he told reporters.

John said he had already contacted the district police chief. "The police have registered a case, and in the presence of family members, inquest procedures and the post-mortem will be completed. The police will conduct a thorough investigation," John added.

He said the student had reportedly been evicted from the hostel and had to stay in paying guest accommodation outside the campus after being affected by the year-back system. "It is reported that around 20 students in the same college face a similar year-back situation. This directly affects the future of these students." When such issues arise, colleges must exercise greater care in handling young students, John said.

Minister calls for counselling, family support

"If there are such students, colleges should provide counselling, contact their parents, brief their families and take all necessary precautions to prevent students from being pushed into such tragic situations," he said. John said the year-back system was introduced in 2024 during the previous government's tenure, following a decision by the then board of studies of KTU.

According to the decision, a student who does not earn the required credits in the fifth semester would be placed a year back. The decision made in 2024 was to be implemented in 2026. Accordingly, it came into effect this year for students entering the fifth semester, he said. "After this government came to power, this issue was brought to our attention.

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KTU drops year-back system, college continues

After the reconstitution of the Board of Studies, the Syndicate met, and at its very first meeting, KTU decided to postpone or avoid the year-back system for this year," he said. According to that decision, all colleges under KTU should follow the system, he said. As an autonomous college, MA College of Engineering, Kothamangalam, exercised the authority vested in its Academic Council and decided to continue with the year-back system, the minister said.

"Students from that college had contacted me, and I had also contacted the college administration, requesting a re-examination of the system. Everyone is aware of the situation in which the university re-examined it and withdrew it. However, the college was not prepared to withdraw it," John said.

He said universities and colleges have autonomy in academic matters and the government does not interfere in such decisions. "However, all decisions-whether by the university or colleges-must keep the students' future in mind, ensuring their life and safety. Decisions should be humane, taking into account the mental state and age of the students," he added.