15 Jun. 24: Nearly two years after the tragic death of Faizan Ahmed, a 23-year-old third-year student from Assam studying at IIT-Kharagpur, his family continues their relentless pursuit of justice. Faizan’s partially decomposed body was discovered in a room at the Lala Lajpat Rai Hostel on October 14, 2022. The room was not the one allocated to him, and initial reports suggested he died by suicide.
From the outset, Faizan’s family, particularly his mother Rehana Ahmed, alleged foul play. They claimed he had been subjected to severe ragging on campus and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the police investigation and the handling of the matter by IIT authorities. Recent forensic reports have intensified these concerns, revealing signs of a gunshot wound and a stab wound on Faizan’s neck. Rehana Ahmed, in a heartfelt conversation with The Indian Express, stated, “I could never have imagined that my boy was tortured like this… How could the IIT administration and police have covered so much up and passed it off as a suicide?”
Since Faizan’s death, Rehana and her husband Salim have been tracking the case diligently through their lawyers in Kolkata from their home in Tinsukia. They initially pushed for an investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Last May, on the orders of the Calcutta High Court, Faizan’s body was exhumed at the Amolapatty Kabrastan in Dibrugarh, with Rehana present.
“I haven’t been able to eat, I haven’t been able to drink since his death. It will be three years this October. A few months ago, I wondered if I should stop pursuing the case, but now that there has been such a big discovery, I can’t do it. New things keep coming to light even today, but we still can’t find those who are responsible for this,” Rehana lamented. Her determination to uncover the truth remains unshaken, despite the prolonged and painful process.
The family’s continuous struggle highlights broader issues of campus safety, the effectiveness of institutional investigations, and the fight against systemic negligence and cover-ups. Their unwavering quest for justice underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability within educational institutions, ensuring that such tragedies do not recur.
