NIT Silchar Suicide Row: Students clash with police, over 40 injured amid lathi charge

A student from Arunachala Pradesh died by suicide in Hostel 7 of NIT Silchar which led to students’ outrage on the streets. The news soon triggered outrage among the students. Many held the institute responsible behind the suicide perceiving it to be the institution's insensitivity and indifference.

NIT Silchar Suicide Row: Post a tragic suicide incident at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar, the campus turned chaotic as students took to the streets in protest. The death of a fellow student led to a violent confrontation with the police, according to media reports. Over 40 individuals got injured during the incident.

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A student from Arunachala Pradesh died by suicide in Hostel 7 of NIT Silchar which led to students’ outrage on the streets. It was alleged that the third-year student (enrolled in 2020) faced academic challenges due to poor internet connectivity in his hometown during the pandemic. This connectivity issue led to academic setbacks, including backlogs, and hampered his progression to the next semester.

Frustrated by these difficulties, the deceased student met with his peers on September 15 morning to advocate for the promotion of students with academic backlogs. Allegedly, NIT authorities responded with indifference and used derogatory language during the encounter, further fueling tensions.

The situation escalated later in the day when a fellow student discovered the scene in the victim's room—the boy lost his life by suicide. The news soon triggered outrage among the students. Many held the institute responsible behind the suicide perceiving it to be the institution's insensitivity and indifference.

As the protests grew more intense, police was called in to restore order. The police resorted to lathi charges as the demonstration turned violent. In the midst of the chaos, several vehicles were vandalized, and hostel property was damaged by the agitated students.

Over 40 NIT Students injured

A delegation consisting of Anmol Mahatva, the Deputy Commissioner of Kachar district, and Rohan Kumar Jha, the Superintendent of Police for Kachar, visited the NIT Silchar campus to assess the situation. To maintain peace and security, a contingent of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was deployed.

The police lathi charge resulted in injuries to more than 40 NIT students. Some of the wounded were admitted to Silchar Medical College, while others received medical treatment and were subsequently released.

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