NIT Durgapur student found dead, students blame institute for academic pressure
Times of India | 29 April 2024
DURGAPUR: A large group of students from the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur protested on the college campus, calling for the resignation of the NIT Durgapur director following the tragic death of a second year mechanical engineering student.
Arpan Ghosh, who is a student at the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, was discovered hanging in his hostel room on Sunday afternoon.
Arvind Choubey, the director of NIT Durgapur, stated, "A suicide case happened and Police is conducting the investigation upon the case."
The incident sparked outrage among the student community, who accused the institution of imposing excessive academic pressure and neglecting their well-being. The campus witnessed a major upheaval as a large number of students gathered to voice their grievances against the institute's administration.
The students allege that they are deprived of sufficient study time and are subjected to back-to-back examinations without adequate breaks, resulting in severe stress. They believe that Arpan Ghosh's suicide is a direct result of this overwhelming academic workload. Additionally, the students express dissatisfaction with the inadequate medical facilities on campus, particularly the lack of an ambulance.
A second-year student shared their concerns, stating, "Our friend committed suicide. He was pressurized because of the exams. In one day they are scheduling two papers that too without a study gap. He had three backlogs."
The student further added, "When we asked for ambulance, there was just one. Nobody came to his rescue, the students had to pick his body. When we were asking for an ambulance, they were asking for signatures and prescriptions. He was admitted in the ICU and he died."
The protesting students not only demanded justice for Arpan Ghosh but also directly confronted the college director, Arvind Choubey, accusing him of negligence. The situation escalated as students engaged in physical confrontations with the college administration.