Stories
IIT-B Students Begin Hunger Strike Demanding Accountability for Wakode's Death
- •A group of IIT Bombay students started a hunger strike demanding accountability from the institute administration and the resignation of its director following the alleged suicide of second-year student Sahil Wakode.
- •Students intensified their 15-day protest after Wakode's parents, also on hunger strike, were denied permission to continue their protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan.
- •Sahil Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18 after allegedly being caught cheating during a mid-semester exam.
- •Protesting students presented an 18-point charter of demands, including an independent investigation into Wakode’s death, changes in the inquiry committee, and the resignation of IIT Bombay director Shireesh Kedare.
- •Demands also include the suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who Wakode’s parents accuse of caste-based discrimination.
Key Questions Answered
IIT Bombay students intensified their 15-day protest over the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode by launching a hunger strike after Wakode's parents were denied weekend permission to continue their fast at Azad Maidan. The students are demanding administrative accountability, an independent investigation, the resignation of director Shireesh Kedare, and the suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
Sahil Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18 after allegedly being caught using his mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester exam. His parents have accused the institute and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla of caste-based discrimination, harassment, and abetment to suicide.
The protesting students presented an 18-point charter of demands that includes an independent and transparent investigation into Sahil Wakode's death, changes to the institute's inquiry committee, the resignation of Director Shireesh Kedare, and the suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla.
