IIT Bombay students launch hunger strike demanding independent probe into peer's death
Students at IIT Bombay began a hunger strike at Justice Corner, calling for an independent investigation and accountability after a second-year student died on campus.
For two weeks, IIT Bombay students have been rallying over the September 18 death of a second-year B.Tech student, culminating in a hunger strike at the campus's Justice Corner. Their demands, outlined in an 18-point charter, call for an independent, transparent probe, changes to the institute's inquiry committee, and the resignation of director Shireesh Kedare along with the suspension of professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who is accused of caste-based discrimination.
The protesters also highlighted broader issues such as mental health, placement pressure, and student-teacher relations. The student's parents are maintaining a hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, insisting on the arrest of Kedare and Doolla. Over 20 Ambedkarite groups, including the Ambedkar Association of North America, have condemned the handling of the case and urged an apology and independent investigation. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad has appealed to the Maharashtra chief minister for swift government action.
Why it matters
The strike spotlights concerns over campus safety, caste discrimination, and institutional accountability in India's premier engineering institute.
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