IIT Delhi Student Death: Former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar steps down from probe panel

Former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, who was appointed as chair of a probe panel examining circumstances leading do death of an IIT Delhi student, has recused himself from the committee even as protest by students continued at the campus on third day, sources said. The institute confirmed that a new panel will be constituted soon, but is yet to make an announcement. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on Tuesday set up a five-member committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of 31-year-old MSc Physics student.

The development came after outraged students staged protests on campus prompting the administration to order suspension of classes on Monday. The committee included Ashok Kumar, former Uttarakhand Director General of Police and an IIT-Delhi alumnus, and Vice Chancellor of Haryana Sports University and Pratap Sharma, Head of Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi. Besides, two student representatives and IIT-Delhi registrar were also be part of the external probe panel. "Kumar has recused himself from the panel citing personal reasons, a new panel will be announced soon," a source said.

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Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide against unidentified persons in connection with the death of the student who allegedly jumped from a building on the institute campus last week, officials said. The student allegedly died by suicide after jumping from a building on the institute's campus on August 22. According to preliminary inquiry, the student had entered the IIT Delhi campus through the main gate around 8 am and subsequently went to the Lecture Hall Complex, where he took a lift to the sixth floor. He allegedly jumped from the front side of the building. The student was rushed to the institute's campus hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A PCR call regarding the incident was received around 8.30 am at Kishangarh police station, following which a police team reached the campus.

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A crime team and a forensic science laboratory unit were also called to collect evidence. Police had earlier said that no suicide note was recovered from the spot. A mobile phone found in the deceased's pocket was seized and is being examined. As part of the investigation, police are also obtaining the student's counselling records and other relevant information from the institute.