A tragic incident unfolded at NIT-Silchar, as a third-year student reportedly died by suicide on the campus. The situation quickly escalated into a violent protest, with 40 people injured due to police lathi charges. Here’s what transpired:
The Tragic Incident
The victim, a native of Arunachal Pradesh, was found hanging in his hostel room on a Friday evening. His classmates alleged that he was driven to take this extreme step because of the actions of the college authorities.
According to the students, the victim had accumulated six backlogs in his first-semester examination, which was conducted online in 2021 due to the pandemic. However, owing to the lockdown and a lack of internet connectivity at home, he couldn’t attend the online classes, resulting in the backlog. He had requested the authorities to conduct a special examination to clear these backlogs, but it is alleged that Dean of Academics BK Roy insulted him instead.
Following this incident, the victim locked himself in his room, and later, his lifeless body was discovered hanging.
Protest and Violence
The news of the student’s death triggered outrage among his classmates. They prevented the police from taking down the body and, two hours later, started a demonstration in front of Dean BK Roy’s official residence on the campus. Their allegations against Roy further fueled the protest.
The situation soon spiraled out of control, leading to the alleged vandalization of Roy’s residence. Cachar’s Superintendent of Police, Numal Mahatta, stated, “They attacked the police and other officials as well. At one point, we had to resort to lathi charges to control the situation. We are now investigating the matter.”
As a result of the lathi charge, 40 students sustained injuries and were sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) for treatment. Some students are reportedly in critical condition.
Authorities Respond
NIT-Silchar director Dilip Kumar Baidya expressed sympathy for the deceased student but also commented on his academic record, stating, “Some students fail, and they come with illegitimate demands.”
Cachar’s District Commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha visited the campus and formed a committee to investigate the incident. However, the protesting students remained resolute, vowing to continue their protest in a democratic manner.
A substantial police presence, along with one company of the CRPF, was deployed at the campus to maintain order, as the situation remained tense.
Seeking Help
It’s essential to address mental health issues and provide support to individuals who may be struggling. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to one of these helplines:
- Aasra (Mumbai) – 022-27546669
- Sneha (Chennai) – 044-24640050
- Sumaitri (Delhi) – 011-23389090
- Cooj (Goa) – 0832-2252525
- Jeevan (Jamshedpur) – 065-76453841
- Pratheeksha (Kochi) – 048-42448830
- Maithri (Kochi) – 0484-2540530
- Roshni (Hyderabad) – 040-66202000
- Lifeline (Kolkata) – 033-64643267
This tragic incident at NIT-Silchar serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues and ensuring a supportive environment for students.
(This story has not been edited by HouseofBlogger staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)