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Members of the Mumbai Youth Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) Youth wing staged a demonstration at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on Wednesday, tying black ribbons around their foreheads to demand justice for deceased student Sahil Wakode and the immediate arrest of the accused professor.
The protesting youth groups alleged administrative bias and demanded an independent inquiry by the Crime Branch into the recent spate of student suicides on the premier institute's campus over the past several months. Speaking to reporters during the agitation, a Youth Congress representative criticised the institute's initial handling of the case and alleged that police had previously detained peaceful demonstrators. "Today, Mumbai Youth Congress is staging this demonstration. Two days ago as well, we had gathered to hold a peaceful protest against the suicide and against IIT Bombay, but the police did not permit us. We were detained within two minutes and held at the police station for four hours," the protester said. The demonstrator strongly condemned the statements issued by the IIT Bombay administration following Wakodes death, alleging attempts to shield the accused before an impartial probe was completed. "Our primary objection is the way IIT Bombay issued a public statement on day one, claiming that the late student Sahil was allegedly using ChatGPT to upload the question paper and write answers. Shortly after, they changed their tune and said this was part of the investigation. We strongly condemn IIT Bombays statements, which appeared to be an attempt to give a clean chit to the accused right at the outset," the protester stated. Rejecting the institute's administrative action of placing the concerned faculty member on leave, the youth wing demanded criminal accountability and a wider probe into campus deaths. "There are reports that the professor has been sent on leave, but our demand is clear: the accused must be arrested so that Sahil and his parents get justice, and the truth comes to light. Furthermore, this investigation should not be limited to this case alone. Three to four student suicides have occurred here over the past seven months; these must be investigated thoroughly by the Crime Branch to find out the underlying truth," the activist added. Workers from the VBA youth wing also joined the demonstration, asserting that they will continue their stir until the accused is jailed. Both outfits warned that they would intensify their agitation if swift legal action is not initiated in the case. The agitation comes after Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 20-year-old BTech student at IIT Bombay, died by suicide on September 18. Following the incident, the police and crime branch began an investigation into the matter. (ANI)
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