Kharagpur/Kolkata: Deceased third-year IIT student Jayveersinh Dodiya's grandfather on Sunday said the boy may have been a victim of "situational pressure" from the institute or "outside forces", rather than academic pressure. Dodiya died on Saturday after falling from the hostel terrace.
"He did not have any pressure. It was situational pressure from this college. This is my observation. Like, people not talking to you properly, or saying ‘If you don't do this, I will do that'. If you say such things to a boy with 99 percentile, he might stay silent while being targeted," the student's grandfather Sardarsinh said, adding, "I don't believe he can die by suicide. If such pressure is put on them that there is no other way, only then does it happen."
He said: "Though the institute claims that entry is restricted, there could be outside forces or influences. Jayveersinh spoke to his mother and grandmother on Friday and was fine. He had taken many exams. If someone says it's because of exams at IIT, I don't believe it," Sardarsinh said. "We don't understand why he would jump. We want the truth to come out."
Sardarsinh, along with three relatives, reached Kharagpur on Sunday to claim Jayveersinh's body. As of now, the family has not filed a written police complaint.
IIT Kharagpur has formed a fact-finding committee to probe into the circumstances of Jayveersinh's death.
Director Suman Chakraborty said, "We are doing a 360-degree scan of the situation to learn and improve. The area where we are weakest and often unable to take action is the student's personal life — factors related to family and other personal matters."
Jayveersinh was the only son in his family. His father, Randhirsinh, is DSP in Baroda CID (crime) in Gujarat Police. His mother is a homemaker.
Jayveersinh's autopsy was conducted at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital on Sunday.
Dean of student well-being Arun Chakraborty said, "We talked to students on Saturday evening for a long time, telling them not to panic. Counsellors have been sent to every hostel."
Preliminary findings by police indicate suicide, but a probe is underway.