IIIT Ranchi Suicide: Students' protest enters 3rd day, demand director’s resignation

The Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Ranchi students staged protests for the third consecutive day against the institute administration over the alleged negligence in the medical treatment of a first-year engineering student, who died by suicide, Hindustan Time reported.

Over 1,000 students have joined the sit-in after the death of the first-year BTech student Aditya Singh. The students are demanding the resignation of Rajiv Srivastava, director of IIIT Ranchi and seeking answers over hostel facilities, emergency medical arrangements, and administrative accountability, the report read.

The incident happened on Saturday night and according to the students, there was a delay in the student receiving medical treatment, alleged administrative negligence, the circumstances surrounding the suicide and the cause of death.

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NHRC to probe IIIT Ranchi student's death

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took the cognizance of the student’s death, and will investigate Aditya’s death.

According to the commission, the investigation will examine the delay in the student receiving medical treatment, alleged administrative negligence, the circumstances surrounding the suicide , and the cause of death.

Meanwhile, Manuren Samson Champia, registrar of IIIT Ranchi, said in the report: “In an attempt to defuse the tense situation, the institute’s chairperson arrived at the protest site to hold talks with the students . However, a standoff ensued before formal discussions could begin. The examinations, which began on October 8, could not be held on Monday due to the agitation.”

The students have also demanded accountability for the alleged admin lapses over providing emergency medical care to the deceased student, it added.

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Place permanent campus doctors, ambulance: IIIT Ranchi students

Along with the resignation, the students have also asked the institute to implement a robust, round-the-clock emergency medical system in the hostel premises , and the permanent deployment of a campus doctor and an ambulance, the report read.

Nirbhay Kumar, officer-in-charge of Khelgaon police station, said in the report: “The students are protesting peacefully, and no law and order problem has arisen so far. The students’ demands and their resolution by the institute’s management are internal matters. The police have no role in the matter.”

A case of unnatural death had been registered and an investigation has started to find the circumstances surrounding the student’s death, Kumar said in the report.