Nine activists from various student organisations were allegedly detained by the police during a protest outside the main gate of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) on Monday over the death of a student, an official statement said.
According to the statement, issued by the Progressive Students’ Union, the protest was held at around 1.30 pm on September 21. The activists were detained and taken to Powai Police Station. They were released later at around 5 pm.
Among those detained included Samya Korde, president of the Progressive Students’ Union; Sachin Kakad, state working president of Chhatra Bharati; Sahil Parsekar of Cockroach Janta Party; and Tejas Anup of Aamchi Padhai Aamchi Ladhai.
Student organisations demand accountability
The student organisations said the incident raises questions about institutional accountability and alleged systemic failures at IIT Bombay. They cited four student deaths over the past nine months.
The organisations have demanded that IIT Bombay Director and Dean take responsibility and resign.
The student organisations alleged that the student had told his parents that he had faced caste-based treatment for around six months and had allegedly been threatened with being implicated in a case.
The organisations alleged that sustained harassment contributed to his death. These allegations have not been independently established.
The student groups also questioned why no arrest had been made despite an FIR being registered in connection with the case.
Tribute paid to students who died
The statement said that the father of a student who had died by suicide in 2023, also travelled from Gujarat to Mumbai to participate in the protest.
Outside the institute’s main gate, students lit candles and paid tribute to the deceased students.
The protesters called for educational institutions to remain free from caste-based discrimination and demanded greater accountability.
Organisations warn of larger protests
The student organisations said they would launch a larger protest movement if immediate arrests or appropriate action were not taken against those they allege were responsible for the death of a student last week.
A second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on Friday evening.
The demands and allegations were made by the student organisations and remain subject to investigation.
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