Fathima Latheef suicide case: IIT Madras accepts demands of students; hunger strike ends

Two students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, on November 18, went on a hunger strike demanding a fair investigation in the Fathima Latheef suicide case  

Chennai: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras administration responded to two out of three demands of the Student Legislative Council, who demanded justice for Fathima Latheef. Student Legislative Council members also called off their hunger strike on the second day after the response of authorities.

Two students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras went on a hunger strike demanding a fair investigation in the Fathima Latheef suicide case on Monday (November 18). More students joined the protest in solidarity as they called for an end to suicides at the premier institute.

The administration of IIT Madras has accepted the first two demands and has promised to review the third demand for an internal probe in the Fathima Latheef suicide case.

Fathima was a student of IIT Madras and had allegedly taken her own life by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room. She was a native of Kerala and was pursuing an integrated MA programme at the institute.

Fathima had been residing at the Sarayu hostel in the campus. Following the incident, police, during its primary investigation, revealed that this was Fathima’s first stay away from family and that she had scored poorly in her internal exam.