IIT Bombay students launch hunger strike over student death

Students at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay initiated a hunger strike on Tuesday, intensifying demonstrations over the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year engineering student. The protest action signals escalating tensions between the student body and institute administration over institutional accountability and governance.

The striking students have presented an 18-point charter of demands to the administration, with calls for the resignation of the institute's director emerging as a centerpiece of their platform. The demands reflect broader concerns among the student community regarding campus safety, mental health support systems, and administrative transparency.

The hunger strike was triggered in part by restrictions imposed on Wakode's parents, who were denied permission to continue their own protests on weekends at the campus. This move by authorities further galvanized student sentiment, with many viewing it as an attempt to suppress grievances rather than address underlying concerns.

IIT Bombay, one of India's premier engineering institutions, has faced increased scrutiny in recent years over student welfare policies and mental health resources. The current protests underscore persistent student demands for systemic reforms and heightened institutional accountability across India's top technical colleges.