IIT Kharagpur Suicide Case – The serene campus of IIT Kharagpur, India’s oldest IIT and a hub of academic excellence, has been shaken by a series of tragedies in recent months. The most recent shock came on April 20, 2025, when Aniket Walkar, a fourth-year student of ocean engineering and naval architecture, was found hanging in his hostel room at J.C. Bose Hall. His sudden death has triggered fresh debates about mental health, academic stress, and the responsibility of premier institutions toward student well-being.
On Monday, a forensic team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Kolkata, entered the hostel room — sealed since the day of Aniket’s death — to collect evidence and reconstruct the chain of events that may have led to the tragedy. The examination was conducted in the presence of IIT officials, hostel authorities, the investigating police officer, and Aniket’s elder brother, Sudip Walkar.
The team recovered Aniket’s mobile phone and laptop, considered vital to the ongoing probe. Experts suggest that digital forensics could hold key insights into Aniket’s mental state in the days leading up to his death — including his communications, social media activity, academic records, and personal notes.
A Disturbing Pattern: Multiple Deaths on Campus
Aniket’s death is not an isolated incident. His case marks yet another addition to a troubling pattern at IIT Kharagpur.
- Just weeks before, Ritam Mondal, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, was found dead in his hostel.
- In early 2025, Shaon Malik, a third-year electrical engineering student, was discovered hanging in his room.
- Last year, Mohammad Asif Qamar, a civil engineering student, died under circumstances that led investigators to question whether peer and academic pressures played a role.
In total, at least four student suicides have been reported within the past seven months at IIT Kharagpur. For a campus celebrated for producing some of India’s finest engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs, this alarming frequency has raised concerns about the psychological cost of excellence.
These incidents have not only sparked grief among students and parents but have also forced the administration, judiciary, and policymakers to confront hard questions about student welfare and mental health infrastructure across IITs.
IIT Kharagpur Suicide Case: Investigations Under Scrutiny
The role of forensic experts is crucial, especially given past controversies. In 2022, the death of Faizan Ahmed, a third-year student, was initially declared a suicide. However, following a court-ordered exhumation of his body, forensic examinations revealed injuries consistent with homicide. The revelation shook public confidence and highlighted potential lapses in the investigative process.
With this history, the forensic examination of Aniket’s case is being watched closely by students, families, and alumni. Many hope that this time, no stone will be left unturned in uncovering the truth.
Forensic experts are expected to analyze:
- Physical evidence from the hostel room
- Digital footprints from seized devices
- Psychological background through conversations and academic records
This meticulous process is vital not only for justice but also to restore trust in institutional accountability.
Mental Health Crisis in Elite Institutions
The string of deaths at IIT Kharagpur reflects a larger national trend. Across India, elite institutions like IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, and NITs have been grappling with student suicides, often linked to academic pressure, lack of emotional support, or social isolation.
At IIT Kharagpur itself, students have repeatedly flagged the following issues:
- High academic workload and intense competition
- Inadequate counseling support (many students say appointments with counselors are limited and often delayed)
- Stigma around seeking help — students fear being judged or labeled weak
- Cultural and language barriers faced by students from diverse backgrounds
- Hostel isolation, where students spend long hours without adequate peer bonding or recreational outlets
An editorial published in The Telegraph earlier this year described the crisis as a “silent epidemic” that calls for urgent reform in the way Indian institutions approach mental health.
Institutional Response and Corrective Measures
In response to mounting criticism, IIT Kharagpur has initiated several steps in recent months:
- Formation of an expert panel: A five-member committee, including psychologists, legal experts, alumni, educationists, and police officers, has been tasked with studying the causes of repeated suicides and recommending solutions.
- Student engagement sessions: The panel has begun holding town hall-style meetings with students to listen to grievances and suggestions.
- Strengthening counseling services: The institute claims to be expanding its mental health staff and encouraging students to seek help.
- Awareness campaigns: Workshops on stress management, peer support, and academic-life balance are being rolled out.
Despite these measures, students and parents argue that responses often come too late, after tragedies occur, rather than through proactive support. Critics demand structural reforms such as reducing course loads, improving faculty-student mentoring, and making mental health services more accessible and stigma-free.
Wider Reflections: Are IITs Failing Their Students?
The IITs are globally respected for their academic rigor, but repeated cases of student suicides raise fundamental questions:
- Are India’s premier institutes focusing too much on academic output at the cost of human well-being?
- Do competitive entrance exams like JEE Advanced, which select less than 2% of aspirants, create a culture of relentless stress that carries forward into campus life?
- Is there enough focus on soft skills, emotional intelligence, and resilience training alongside technical education?
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India reported 13,000 student suicides in 2022, the highest in a decade. Many of these deaths were concentrated in states with major coaching hubs and elite institutions.
Mental health experts argue that unless there is systemic reform, student deaths at IITs may continue to rise.
Voices from Campus
Many IIT students, speaking on condition of anonymity, express frustration at the “toxic competitiveness” that permeates campus life.
- “It feels like you’re always being measured, always behind someone else,” said a second-year student.
- Another added: “Counseling is there on paper, but most of us hesitate to go. If you go, people assume you’re weak.”
- A final-year student remarked: “We need mentors, not just teachers. Someone who checks on us as human beings.”
Parents, too, are increasingly vocal. Aniket’s brother Sudip told reporters that the family will not rest until they understand what pushed Aniket to such a drastic step.
A Path Forward
While investigations into Aniket’s death continue, his story has reignited the larger debate on how Indian institutions should support students. Experts recommend:
- 24×7 helpline services on campus
- Mandatory mental health check-ins for all students each semester
- Training for hostel wardens and faculty to identify early signs of distress
- Peer-support clubs to foster community bonding
- Academic reforms to reduce undue workload and pressure
Some alumni have even proposed the creation of a dedicated National Mental Health Fund for Higher Education, to ensure institutions have resources to hire counselors and run wellness programs.
Conclusion
The visit of the forensic team to IIT Kharagpur’s J.C. Bose Hall marks another chapter in the ongoing investigation into Aniket Walkar’s tragic death. But beyond the sealed hostel room and seized devices lies a bigger story — one of systemic pressures, neglected well-being, and institutional accountability.
For every grieving family, for every shaken classmate, and for every young mind entering India’s premier institutes, the hope is that Aniket’s case will not just end in another closed file but will instead drive meaningful change.
As India aspires to be a global leader in innovation and education, it must also ensure that its brightest students are not silently crushed under the weight of expectation.
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