Kharagpur : The tragic death of Mohammad Asif Qamar, a third-year Civil Engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, has raised serious concerns about the mental health environment in India’s top educational institutions. Asif was recently found dead in his hostel room at the Madan Mohan Malaviya Hall, with initial reports citing suicide as the cause of death.
Following the incident, Asif’s elder brother Nadeem Qamar, accompanied by two cousins, visited the campus. They were joined by representatives of the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India, including Shafiqul Islam Mondal (Public Relations Secretary, SIO West Bengal), Sahinul Arif (President, SIO East Medinipur), and Samaul Ali. The group collected the post-mortem report from the Kharagpur Town Police Station and held meetings with institute authorities.
Shafiqul Islam expressed deep concern, stating, “This is the third suicide in IIT Kharagpur within five months. It reflects a serious need for systemic reform. Educational institutions must address the moral, spiritual, and emotional well-being of students.”
Asif’s family has raised doubts about the circumstances surrounding his death. According to his brother, Asif had a video call with their mother just the night before his death and appeared completely normal, showing no signs of distress.
SIO has called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the case. The organisation also urged the Ministry of Education and IIT Kharagpur to take immediate action to reduce academic pressure, improve mental health infrastructure, and cultivate a more compassionate institutional environment.
The student’s death has triggered a wave of solidarity and concern among peers and rights groups across the country, with many highlighting the urgent need for student-centric reforms in India’s higher education system.
