NEW DELHI: Two days after Rishikesh Kumar, a 31-year-old MSc student in the physics department, died by suicide, IIT Delhi on Monday cancelled scheduled classes following student protests. Students held a candlelight march and protest at the Lecture Hall Complex, from which Kumar jumped to his death.
The protesters demanded the resignations of the dean and associate dean of students’ welfare, the associate dean of hostel management and the head of the physics department. A student alleged Kumar had not been allocated hostel accommodation and was living in rented accommodation outside campus with his mother. He had recently lost his father.
A student delegation met IIT Delhi director Rangan Banerjee, demanding resignations, an independent investigation, and action over the alleged failure to allocate Kumar a hostel and denial of research projects.