New Delhi: Students at IIT Delhi staged a rare and large protest on Monday after the death of a 31-year-old MSc Physics student, Rishikesh Kumar, who allegedly died by suicide on campus two days earlier.
The demonstration began near the Lecture Hall Complex in the morning and grew through the day, with nearly 300 students later gathering in the lobby of the institute's main building outside the director's office. The protest drew attention because student agitations are uncommon on the campus.
Students said the death was not an isolated incident and claimed it was the eighth suicide at IIT Delhi since 2023. They demanded an independent inquiry, accountability from senior administrators, compensation for Kumar's family and a complete review of student welfare systems at the institute.
The protestors sought the resignation of the Dean, Associate Deans and the Head of the Physics Department, alleging that decisions related to housing, academic projects and access to institutional support may have contributed to Kumar's sense of isolation. They also called for a stronger mental-health support structure on campus.
According to the students, the institute’s handling of the matter raised serious questions about its support systems. They asked for an examination of the role of the Student Counselling Services, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Associate Dean Student Welfare and the Institute Hospital administration.
The agitation intensified after students said that media personnel were barred from entering the campus and that academic activities should be suspended until the administration responded to their demands. They also insisted that no punitive action should be taken against students participating in the protest.
Outside the campus, student groups including the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union and the All India Students’ Association also expressed support, calling for an inquiry into what they described as institutional negligence.
Delhi Police said Kumar fell from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex on Saturday morning after a PCR call was received around 8:33 am. Police have said that no suicide note was found.
The investigation into the death is continuing, while students say their protest will continue until the institute addresses both the specific circumstances of Kumar's death and the broader concerns they have raised about student welfare and mental health support.
