KHARAGPUR/KOLKATA: A 22-year-old third-year civil engineering student of IIT Kharagpur allegedly died by suicide in his hostel room in Madan Mohan Malaviya (MMM) Hall early Saturday during a video call with a Delhi-based girl, who alerted the institute security officer by phone, report Sujoy Khanra & Dipawali Mitra.
The suicide of Mohammad Asif Qamar, from Bihar’s Sheohar district has sparked fresh alarm, prompting the IIT to set up a committee to probe the reasons behind the spate of suicides on campus. Dean of students’ affairs Bhargab Maitra said, “The second death in a fortnight has shown us the urgent need to set up the committee and study the campus environment.”
We’ve not found any history of mental health issues: Official
IIT’s security officer received a call at 2.53 am on Sunday from the Delhi-based girl informing him that Qamar had harmed himself. Around 3.30 am, police from Hijli outpost on the IIT campus broke open the door and rushed Qamar to BC Roy Hospital on the campus, where he was declared dead.
A source said, “The girl reportedly told the IIT security officer that the student died in front of her (on the video screen). The security officer got scared and asked about her location, to which she said she was in Delhi and the student was on the ground floor of MMM Hall.” The girl got the number of the security officer from the website, as his number is listed among emergency contacts, a source said.
Police will issue a formal statement on Qamar’s death after the autopsy at Midnapore Medical College Hospital on Monday morning. His relatives arrived in Kharagpur on Sunday evening.
Qamar stayed at the SDS block of MMM Hall. His roommate was out of campus on leave.
A senior official said, “We have not found any history of mental health issues, medical treatment, or visits to the IIT counselling centre.”
Qamar, a 2022-batch student, had been improving his performance. He took multiple computer science (optional) courses. Sources said he had an exam malpractice case against him in early 2024, after which he was deregistered from that course (he had to retake it in the next semester).
The institute, in a statement, said, “It is with deep sadness that IIT Kharagpur condoles the untimely demise of Md Asif Qamar.” TOI reported on May 4 that psychiatrists, counsellors, alumni, former faculty members, professors, and student representatives will be part of IIT-KGP’s committee that will probe the reasons behind the spate of student suicides on campus.