Kamal Ghorui
KOLKATA/KHARAGPUR: “I am dying, my body will be in the room. I’ve left the security number. Call them to take my body from the room.” A fourth-year IIT Kharagpur engineering student’s chilling message to his family, informing them of his death in the hostel room, led to the discovery of the 22-year-old’s hanging body. The message had been scheduled and reached Soham Halder’s family in Barasat at 10.45 am on Tuesday.The Madan Mohan Malviya Hall boarder was a student of a five-year dual-degree (BTech and MTech) course in electronics and electrical communication engineering.Halder is the ninth Kharagpur campus student to die in the past 15 months, and the second death in the institute within 10 days. On April 18, Jayveersinh Dodiya, a third-year engineering student, died after reportedly falling from the terrace of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall of Residence. Police sources said, “Before taking the drastic step, the student sent the scheduled message, setting the date and time for it to be sent automatically. As soon as the message reached his family, his sister alerted the IIT security officer, who went to the hostel and found the door locked from inside. The officer informed cops at Hijli outpost and the institute authorities. Police arrived around 11 am. They broke the door and found Halder hanging. The entire recovery process was videographed.”Halder was declared dead at BC Roy Hospital. “Preliminary findings indicate suicide, but formal statements will be issued after autopsy on Wednesday. His parents have been informed,” an officer said. A source said Halder’s parents reached the campus in the late afternoon on Tuesday.IIT director Suman Chakraborty said, “The student was in distress, and took such a step. But we received no signals from the three important sources — department, student community, or parents. His roommate, too, said he did not notice any sign or see any change in his behaviour. A committee will examine the incident and there will be feedback from the department on his academic progress.” “He reportedly had backlogs and did not register for any course in the last two semesters. This should have been escalated by the department,” a source said. Dean of student well-being Arun Chakraborty said, “He gave his exam on Monday and spoke to his family.” An IIT Kharagpur statement said, “The institute is cooperating with authorities.”
