Saksham told ANI that students wanted the protest to remain focused on student welfare.
Kumar died on August 22 after falling from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex at IIT Delhi.
NEW DELHI: A second-year BTech student at IIT Delhi has opposed what he described as the “politicisation” of protests over the death of 31-year-old MSc student Rishikesh Kumar, saying outside political influences were beginning to affect the unity of the agitation. Saksham’s remarks came a day after All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora extended support to the protesting students and described Kumar’s death as an “institutional murder”, alleging that systemic pressure was responsible. Police have said that no suicide note was recovered and that the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated. Every time, the same cycle repeats: a committee is formed, a report is submitted, everything goes on paper, but nothing concrete changes on the ground,” he had said. IIT Delhi has said the external committee will examine the circumstances leading to Kumar’s death and recommend further measures to strengthen student support systems.
“The reality is that every time an incident occurs, the administration simply claims that an investigation will be conducted and a committee will be set up. The institute has also proposed appointing an external ombudsperson to address student grievances that remain unresolved through existing internal mechanisms.
The institute has also said it is extending financial support to Kumar’s family through contributions from faculty, students and staff. Students have been protesting since his death, demanding an independent probe, financial assistance for his family, the resignation of the Dean of Student Welfare and reforms to the institute’s student welfare and mental health support systems.