NEW DELHI: The chairperson of the committee proposed by IIT Delhi to probe the loss of life of 31-year-old scholar Rishikesh Kumar has recused himself from the panel, citing prior commitments, sources on the institute advised information company ANI.Former Uttarakhand DGP and IIT Delhi alumnus Ashok Kumar was named because the chair of the five-member Exterior Inquiry Committee on Tuesday.A brand new chairperson can be introduced quickly, in line with ANI.
Committee introduced after scholar protests
The committee was introduced early on Tuesday morning by IIT Delhi Director Prof Rangan Banerjee in an e mail to college students.The proposed panel included Ashok Kumar, AIIMS New Delhi psychiatry division head Prof Pratap Sharma, two scholar representatives and the institute’s Registrar, who was to function secretary and convenor.“The chair of the committee has recused himself from the panel citing prior commitments,” a supply within the IIT advised ANI.Some protesting college students had additionally objected to the proposed composition of the committee and demanded that it’s headed by a former excessive court docket choose.College students have been protesting since Monday following Rishikesh’s loss of life on August 22.They’re demanding an unbiased probe, the resignation of the Dean of Pupil Welfare and monetary help for the deceased scholar’s household, amongst different calls for.
College students search unbiased probe
IIT Delhi had agreed to represent an exterior inquiry committee to look at the circumstances resulting in Rishikesh’s loss of life.In a press launch issued on August 25, the institute mentioned the committee could be given the required mandate to look at the matter comprehensively and establish additional measures required to strengthen scholar assist techniques.The institute additionally mentioned it was proposing the appointment of an exterior ombudsperson to deal with scholar grievances that stay unresolved via present inside mechanisms.
‘He was very useful in nature’
Second-year B.Tech scholar Saksham, who mentioned he knew Rishikesh personally, mentioned college students have been persevering with their protest as they felt their calls for had not been adequately addressed.“Rishikesh ji dedicated suicide by leaping from the sixth ground of LHC at 8 AM on Saturday. After that, the anger among the many public elevated, and our protest began on Monday. The precise calls for weren’t accepted to an important extent.”“There was discuss of compensation, investigation, and free and truthful system change, however no concrete resolution on all these has been taken but; therefore, college students are persevering with their protest. I had met him personally, however I didn’t know him very nicely,” Saksham mentioned.“We have now a Purvanchal neighborhood that retains the communities of Jap UP and Bihar collectively, so I met him via them. He was of a really useful nature. When he met me, he was a totally regular individual with good management and a powerful character. Since he was of that sort, we by no means thought that he would take such a step,” he added furher.Saksham additionally alleged that the newest loss of life was a part of an extended sample of deaths on the institute.“That is the eighth loss of life in 30 months. Each time, the administration used to say that an investigation committee could be fashioned and a report would come, however nothing occurs on strong floor. Now what the scholars are saying is: resign and do all this, and also you take away these individuals.”“However that is additionally not the answer. College students are additionally slowly understanding now that resignation will finally change the elites. If the interior system is identical, then no answer will come,” he mentioned.Saksham additionally mentioned there have been makes an attempt to steer the protest away from the scholars’ core calls for.“There is a matter with the lively discourse; individuals throughout the system with political agendas try to steer this in a distinct course. They need the method to pull on—with hearings and requires resignations—with none precise change occurring on the bottom.”“This mobilization and politicization is step by step creeping in, influenced by JNU. The scholars are fairly indignant about this as a result of that is an IIT Delhi protest—not one belonging to JNU, DU, or wherever else—and we do not need exterior influences dictating what ought to occur or how issues ought to proceed.”“Particularly on condition that casteist remarks have been made yesterday. College students are strongly against the politicization stemming from the rivalry between the ‘Left foyer’ and the ‘Proper foyer.'”“They are not looking for any political agenda propagated right here, nor do they need slogans or posters related to any particular political faction. Nonetheless, the affect coming from JNU has began inflicting some points; college students have gotten indignant, and the unity that existed through the protests is starting to waver,” he mentioned.
What IIT Delhi mentioned about Rishikesh
In accordance with IIT Delhi, Rishikesh joined the institute in July 2025 and was residing in a hostel on campus.The institute mentioned that following considerations raised by fellow college students a couple of days after the Holi festivities earlier this 12 months, he was referred to the institute hospital and subsequently acquired therapy at a specialised hospital for roughly one month.His request to withdraw from the second semester was permitted. After a assessment of his well being data in July, medical recommendation was on condition that he ought to proceed underneath parental supervision, the institute mentioned.IIT Delhi mentioned Rishikesh acquired counselling and therapy assist from institute counsellors and docs in July and August. His request to withdraw from the third semester was additionally permitted.The institute has additionally mentioned it’s extending monetary assist to Rishikesh’s household via contributions from college, college students and workers.
Police register abetment case
Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide in opposition to unidentified individuals in reference to Rishikesh’s loss of life.In accordance with the preliminary inquiry, Rishikesh entered the IIT Delhi campus via the primary gate at round 8 am on August 22.He subsequently went to the Lecture Corridor Complicated, the place he took a elevate to the sixth ground and allegedly jumped from the entrance facet of the constructing.He was rushed to the institute’s campus hospital, the place he was declared introduced lifeless.A PCR name relating to the incident was acquired at round 8.30 am at Kishangarh police station. A police workforce reached the campus, whereas a criminal offense workforce and a forensic science laboratory unit have been additionally known as to gather proof.Police had earlier mentioned that no suicide observe was recovered from the spot. A cell phone present in Rishikesh’s pocket was seized and is being examined.As a part of the investigation, police are additionally acquiring his counselling data and different related info from the institute.The circumstances resulting in the coed’s loss of life and the function, if any, of others are being investigated, officers mentioned.
