22 March 2009

IIT Kharagpur Student Death | Rohit Kumar Death

The death of a student sparked off violence in the IIT Kharagpur campus on Sunday as angry students damaged the residence of institute Director Damodar Acharya, demanding suspension of the superintendent of the institute-run hospital for alleged negligence.

Police said Rohit Kumar, a third-year Electrical Engineering department student who had a history of epilepsy, was admitted to B.C. Roy Hospital on the campus after he met with an accident two days ago.

Kumar, who hailed from Patna and was an inmate of Lala Lajpat Roy hostel of the premier institution, died while being shifted to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.

Alleging that a doctor did not accompany the sick student and was left unattended till 9 am on Sunday, angry students gheraoed the residence of the director, located within the campus, broke window panes and damaged his car.

While the director and his family members were safe, Dr. Acharya, his deputy, Registrar, Dean-Alumni Association, and the SDO, Kharagpur, were holding talks with the students.

Police cordoned off the Director's residence as the students demanded the hospital superintendent be suspended forthwith. Personnel of RAF were also deployed to avoid any flare up.