Overview
- A first-year IIIT Ranchi student was found hanging in his hostel room on Saturday night and died after being taken to hospital, with the body sent for post-mortem and police registering an unnatural-death inquiry.
- Ranchi police say preliminary inquiries point to examination-related stress as a possible factor in the death, and investigators are continuing forensic and criminal probes.
- Students allege specific emergency failures that delayed care, saying the hostel lift was not working, the on-campus ambulance had no driver or essential equipment such as an oxygen kit, and wardens or staff did not respond promptly.
- Hundreds of students have held sustained protests on campus and on nearby roads, at times up to about 1,000, and they are demanding accountability and the resignation of the institute director.
- The Ministry panel, chaired by Prof. Rajni Abbi and including a senior psychiatrist and a senior ministry official, will examine counselling, mentoring, grievance redressal and basic facilities while interim administrative steps are put in place and the NHRC has said it will take cognisance of the case.