Amid protests in IIT Guwahati over student's death, dean of academic affairs resigns
Guwahati, Sep 11: Amid protests by students of IIT Guwahati demanding justice for a third-year student, who died allegedly by suicide, Dean of Academic Affairs K V Krishna resigned from his post.
A third-year Computer Science student, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, was found dead in his hostel room on Monday, leading to protests by students who also demanded proper mental health support for all.
Students had gathered outside the administration building since Monday evening and many of them did not attend classes in protest against recurring incidents of deaths of students by suicide in the campus.
This is the fourth death of a student at IIT Guwahati this year with a woman MTech student dying allegedly by suicide on August 9.
In a statement on Wednesday, the IIT authorities said they have received the resignation letter of the dean.
"We are discussing this internally. A decision will be taken soon," the statement said.
The students are also demanding the resignation of the Professor of Mathematics who had allegedly failed 40 students due to lack of required attendance, the vice chairman of the Hostel Affairs Board and the associate dean of student affairs.
IIT Guwahati Director Devendra Jalihal met students and held discussions with them for several hours and took cognisance of their issues and concerns, the statement said.
A student later said that director patiently heard their concerns and assured them that the three other professors would also resign within a week.
The protesting students claimed that the deceased was suffering from health issues and was disturbed mentally after he was marked for failed attendance (FA).
They alleged that though the deceased student had submitted the required medical certificates, those were not considered making him even more depressed.
Director Jalihal also participated in a candle-light vigil on Tuesday night.
"As a new director who has taken charge recently, he is committed to resolving these issues and ensuring overall student well-being on the campus," according to the statement.
The director also urged the students to refrain from protests and return to their classrooms.
"While understanding and acknowledging the concerns of the students, it is crucial to prioritise academic continuity and maintain a peaceful campus," he urged the students.
The institute is taking the issues raised by the students seriously and addressing them to prevent future tragedies, he said.
"The well-being of everyone remains our top priority, and we are fully committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all," the statement said.
Meanwhile, IIT Guwahati authorities on Wednesday asked journalists not to visit the campus after the death of the student.
"Members of the media are requested not to visit the campus now. The institute assures you that the situation is being treated with utmost urgency," the statement said.
Media will soon be invited to the campus for a meeting with the director, it added.
"We request members of the press to understand and cooperate with us in these difficult times and give us a few days to bring the situation back to normal," the statement added.
Several journalists who have visited the campus in North Guwahati since Tuesday evening have been turned away from the gates.
IIT Guwahati authorities were also not available in person or over phone to talk to the media.
Journalists who were barred from entering the campus pointed out that they were prevented from doing their duty, with the authorities refusing to respond to their queries but only a statement was issued.
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Evading core issue: Siddaramaiah slams Centre on sugarcane FRP in letter to Pralhad Joshi
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a sharp attack on the Central Government Saturday, accusing it of "evading the core issue" of the widening gap between cultivation costs and the price realisation for sugarcane, which he stated has pushed lakhs of farmers into distress.
In a detailed, three-page letter to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Siddaramaiah dismantled the Centre's claims on the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), ethanol blending, and financial support to the state.
The Chief Minister's letter was a direct rebuttal to one he had received from Joshi regarding the "plight of sugarcane farmers in Karnataka."
"Farcical" FRP claims
Siddaramaiah challenged the Centre's announced FRP of ₹355 per quintal at 10.25% recovery, calling the government's claim of a 105.2% margin over production cost "unfortunately, a farce."
"Every farmer in Karnataka knows that since 2014, the cost of fertilizers, labour, transportation, and other inputs have more than doubled," Siddaramaiah wrote. He contrasted this with the FRP, which he stated has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just 4.47% since 2014, rising from ₹210 to ₹355.
He also pointed out that the FRP was not increased for two consecutive years during the NDA regime, causing an average loss of ₹20 per quintal to farmers. This, he argued, was in stark contrast to the UPA years, when the CAGR for FRP was 12.96%.
The Chief Minister accused the Central Government of "artificially pegging higher" the recovery rate to manipulate the numbers. "While it was 9.5% during UPA, the NDA government raised it to 10.25%, reducing the effective FRP," the letter stated. "On a comparable 9.5% recovery rate, the present FRP is only ₹329 per quintal, making the real growth a meagre 3.8% CAGR. This manipulation of numbers has betrayed the farmers."
Siddaramaiah also refuted the Centre's portrayal of ethanol blending as a "boon" to the sugar sector. He argued that the financial benefits are not being passed on to the farmers.
UPA Era: With ethanol blending below 5% and 9.5% recovery, the FRP recorded a robust CAGR of 12.96%.
NDA Era: With ethanol blending at approximately 20% and 10.25% recovery, the CAGR has "dropped to just 3.8%."
He noted that ethanol supply from Karnataka distilleries has only "marginally" increased from 38 crore litres in 2022-23 to 47 crore litres in 2024-25, despite an installed capacity of 270 crore litres.
The larger question remains unanswered," he wrote, "why has the benefit of ethanol blending not been passed on to the farmers?
The Chief Minister made several demands and accusations:
New MSP mechanism: He urged the Centre to devise a new MSP for sugar that categorises "domestic and commercial consumption separately," so that higher profits from commercial sales are reflected in the price paid to farmers.
Data transparency: Challenging claims that the Centre has provided "substantial financial assistance" to sugar mills, Siddaramaiah demanded the "mill-wise data" of such support in Karnataka to verify if the benefits "have truly reached the intended stakeholders."
Absence of Union Ministers: He expressed disappointment that "none of the Union Ministers from Karnataka attended the meeting held on 7th November 2025," where stakeholders were invited to discuss the issue.
Tax devolution: He accused the Union Government of a "step-motherly attitude," claiming Karnataka has been denied "over ₹2 lakh crore" in its rightful share of tax devolution and grants over the past five years.
Siddaramaiah concluded with a direct appeal to Joshi as a "senior Union Minister from Karnataka" to "stand with the farmers."
"The real measure of governance is not in statistical claims but in the smiles on the faces of farmers," he wrote.
