IIT Delhi students protest after eighth death on campus
Nearly 300 students gathered at IIT Delhi following the suicide of MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar. The institute has formed a five-member external inquiry committee to report within two weeks.
New Delhi1 min read
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Students at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi staged a rare protest on Tuesday after the death of a 31-year-old MSc Physics student, the eighth such incident on the campus in recent years.
Rishikesh Kumar died after jumping from the sixth floor of a building on Saturday. Nearly 300 students joined the protest, holding placards and stating, “We are here after eight deaths.”
The demonstration focused on mental health pressures and systemic issues within the institution. IIT Delhi responded by constituting a five-member External Inquiry Committee. The panel includes former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, Professor Pratap Sharma from AIIMS New Delhi, two student representatives and the Registrar.
The committee has been asked to investigate the circumstances of the death, review existing protocols and processes, and submit its report within two weeks.
Campus deaths by suicide have become a recurring concern across several IITs and other higher education institutions. Students and faculty have repeatedly called for stronger counselling services, reduced academic pressure and clearer accountability mechanisms.
The protest at IIT Delhi is one of the most visible expressions of internal discontent at the institution in recent memory.
