Kurukshetra/Haryana: A fresh student suicide at the National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, in BJP-ruled Haryana, has intensified outrage on campus, marking the fourth such death in just two months and triggering massive protests against the institute’s administration.
The victim, a 20-year-old student from Buxar in Bihar, was found dead on campus, adding to a disturbing series of similar incidents reported on February 16, March 31, and April 8. The body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem at LNJP Hospital, while police said a detailed investigation is underway.
Students have erupted in protest, accusing the administration of negligence and systemic failure. They allege that timely intervention mechanisms were absent and that repeated warning signs were ignored, allowing a crisis to spiral unchecked. The protests reflect deep anger over what students describe as institutional apathy in the face of mounting mental health emergencies.
According to students, intense academic pressure, financial strain, and family expectations are pushing many to the brink, while access to professional mental health support remains grossly inadequate. They are demanding a comprehensive probe, immediate strengthening of counselling services, and robust emergency response systems to prevent further tragedies.
Authorities, meanwhile, claim to have initiated steps such as stress management programmes in hostels and enhanced surveillance through CCTV. A “preparatory holiday” has been announced from April 17 to May 4, but students have questioned the move, pointing out that the syllabus remains incomplete and that such measures fail to address the core crisis.
With pressure mounting, a three-member committee appointed by the Union Education Ministry is set to visit the campus next week to examine administrative functioning and student support systems. The crisis unfolds despite recent directives issued under a national task force formed following a Supreme Court intervention aimed at curbing rising student suicides across educational institutions.