Devasharan Kumar, a first-year Btech student from NIT Mizoram, passed away on March 30 due to food poisoning after consuming bad quality food and water from the college hostel.
He was admitted to a private hospital following a throat infection but, the doctors were unable to place the exact cause. He was on his way home when his health worsened following which he was forced to go to a hospital.
His death has sparked widespread protest among NIT Mizoram student, calling for immediate action from the authorities and to better the condition of the college hostel. Students allege that Devsharan's untimely death was due to the college as well hostel authority's sheer negligence.
The students held a candlelight vigil in memory of Devsharan and they have also been on a hunger strike since April 31 demanding stringent action by the MHRD against the management.
The protesting students have claimed that the students have been further harassed by the management, " They tried to deter us by telling us that they will provide better quality food and water. The harassment has gone to such an extent that the warden mishandled a student. They have threatened to disqualify us from placements and that we would suffer academically," says Anish*, a classmate of deceased Devasharan. Frustrated with the management's inaction, on Wednesday, two students tried to commit suicide by setting themselves on fire.
"They have tried to settle the issue by offering compensation. But, we wouldn't stop unless the Ministry has been involved in this. They have cut water supply to us and morning buses were rescheduled to stop us from protesting," says another student.
In a widely shared Facebook post by the, I am an NITIAN page, it says that the problem has been persistent for the past six months, " We had already informed college authority six months back that we don't have an R.O. in our hostel and no proper food facility. But in spite of our request, we were not provided anything," it says.
Devasharan who fell sick a few weeks back was denied the permission to go home by the hostel warden as it meant missing his mid-term examination. "About 15 to 18 days back Devasharan had gone to Ajmal Koya (our warden) for leave, but the warden neither analysed his condition nor permitted to go home, he just ignored his request," it said.
The warden refused to comment on the issue when contacted.
(*Names have been changed on request)
