IIT Kharagpur Student’s Body Exhumed for Second Post-Mortem Examination

Kolkata: The body of Faizan Ahmed, a student from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, who was found dead in his hostel room seven months ago, was exhumed in Assam.

The Calcutta High Court issued the directive for a second post-mortem examination, leading to the exhumation process at the Amolapatty burial ground in Dibrugarh. A team of expert forensic professionals from Assam Medical College and Guwahati Medical College, accompanied by Kharagpur police and officials, conducted the exhumation. After the process, the body will be held overnight at the morgue before being transported to Kolkata for the subsequent examination.

Ahmed’s parents filed a petition challenging the college administration’s claim that their son died by suicide, alleging foul play and murder. The Calcutta High Court ordered the exhumation in response to their plea. Ahmed, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at IIT-Kharagpur, was found dead in his room on October 14, 2022, causing distress and raising concerns about student safety and well-being at the institution.

This case is part of a larger issue surrounding a troubling rise in student deaths within the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in recent years. To address these incidents, there have been calls for enhanced security measures and improved mental health support on campuses. The forthcoming second post-mortem examination results will play a vital role in uncovering the circumstances surrounding Ahmed’s death and providing closure for his grieving family.