IIT Guwahati Student Death: Family, political leaders demand CBI probe, allege 'institutional murder'

NEW DELHI: An Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati)’s female MTech student, was found hanging from the ceiling of her hostel room on Friday, August 9. The IIT Guwahati student, identified as Saumya Katiyar, hailed from Uttar Pradesh and was residing in Disang Hostel. According to the family members and political leaders her death is being wrongly portrayed as a suicide by authorities. They have called for a CBI inquiry into the incident, suspecting murder. Her body was discovered after friends noticed her absence from classes earlier on the day.

Saumya Katiyar, 23-year-old student, was the daughter of Shailendra Katiyar, a teacher residing in Vivekanand Nagar of Bhognipur Kotwali area in Kanpur Dehat. The sudden and tragic nature of her death has sent shockwaves through the community, with questions being raised about the circumstances leading to the incident.

Chandra Shekhar Aazad, the chief and co-founder of the Bhim Army and the national president of the Azad Samaj Party, has publicly expressed his doubts about the nature of Saumya's death. In a statement posted on X, Aazad referred to the incident as a potential case of "institutional murder." He emphasized that the circumstances surrounding Saumya's death seem suspicious and that her family believes foul play is involved.

Family, political leaders allege 'institutional murder'

"The death of Saumya Katiyar, just 23 years old daughter of Shailendra Katiyar, a teacher resident of Vivekanand Nagar of Bhognipur Kotwali area of Kanpur Dehat, under suspicious circumstances in the hostel of IIT Guwahati, seems to be a case of 'institutional murder' of a promising daughter of the backward class," Aazad wrote.

Authorities misrepresenting murder as suicide

Azad further alleged that the Assam state government, led by the BJP, along with the IIT administration, is attempting to pass off Saumya's death as a suicide, despite her family's belief that she was murdered and then hanged. Aazad highlighted that Saumya had spoken to her mother the night before the incident and appeared to be in a happy mood, making the news of her death the following day all the more shocking.

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IIT Guwahati Student Death: Call for CBI inquiry

Aazad and the Azad Samaj Party have expressed their full support for Saumya's family during this difficult time. In his statement, Aazad urged prime minister Narendra Modi and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted into the incident, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry to uncover the truth.

The X post further read, "@AzadSamajParty stands with daughter Soumya's family with all her strength in this tragic incident. Also, she demands justice for daughter Soumya's family by getting the CBI inquiry done on this suspicious incident from the Prime Minister of the country @narendramodi and the Education Minister @dpradhanbjp".

IIT Guwahati’s official statement

IIT Guwahati released an official statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss. "It is with profound regret that IIT Guwahati reports the tragic death of a female student on campus on 9th August 2024. The matter is being investigated by the Police authorities. The student’s immediate family has been informed, and the Institute is providing them full support during this difficult time," the statement read.

The North Guwahati Police have confirmed that the body was found in Saumya's hostel room. The police have initiated an investigation into the matter, but further details have yet to be released as the inquiry continues.