Student's death sparks protest; MIT director quits

Manipal, March 16: Nearly 4,000 students of the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), a constituent of Manipal University, went on a protest on the institute's premises and later in front of the university building against the death of a fellow student Ishaan Nilani here on Thursday.

The students, who gathered in front of the university building for nearly four hours, shouted slogans against the Director of MIT Kumkum Garg and demanded her resignation. The impasse ended when the university authorities finally relented with Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University K. Ramnarayan announcing the resignation of Ms. Garg. The students then dispersed from the spot.

A student pursuing third year IT course told meida persons that Ishaan Nilani, a second year student of EEE branch from Kota in Rajasthan, fell from the college bus while on his way to class on the morning of March 10 from his hostel at MIT 10th Block.

The student alleged that Ishaan fell because of overcrowding and “rash driving” by the bus driver.

He suffered head injuries and was rushed to Kasturba Hospital here. He died on Thursday.

“Ishaan died because of the fault of the driver. But the driver has not been arrested or punished. The college buses are always overcrowded and the doors are never closed and bus drivers drive the vehicles in a rash manner. The college administration is not sensitive to the needs of the students,” he alleged.

A student of fifth year and a staff member of MIT said that an insensitive remark by Ms. Garg about the dead student had enraged the students and triggered the protest.

Earlier, the students staged a protest at the entrance of the MIT Administrative Block at the Kamath Circle and at the MIT Quadrangle.

Registrar of Manipal University G.K. Prabhu told The Hindu that Ishaan had died of head injury at the Kasturba Hospital. The university would look into the other demands of the students. Ms. Garg had apologised for her insensitive remark, he said.

Student's death sparks protest; MIT director quits

Manipal, March 16: Nearly 4,000 students of the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), a constituent of Manipal University, went on a protest on the institute's premises and later in front of the university building against the death of a fellow student Ishaan Nilani here on Thursday.

The students, who gathered in front of the university building for nearly four hours, shouted slogans against the Director of MIT Kumkum Garg and demanded her resignation. The impasse ended when the university authorities finally relented with Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University K. Ramnarayan announcing the resignation of Ms. Garg. The students then dispersed from the spot.

A student pursuing third year IT course told meida persons that Ishaan Nilani, a second year student of EEE branch from Kota in Rajasthan, fell from the college bus while on his way to class on the morning of March 10 from his hostel at MIT 10th Block.

The student alleged that Ishaan fell because of overcrowding and “rash driving” by the bus driver.

He suffered head injuries and was rushed to Kasturba Hospital here. He died on Thursday.

“Ishaan died because of the fault of the driver. But the driver has not been arrested or punished. The college buses are always overcrowded and the doors are never closed and bus drivers drive the vehicles in a rash manner. The college administration is not sensitive to the needs of the students,” he alleged.

A student of fifth year and a staff member of MIT said that an insensitive remark by Ms. Garg about the dead student had enraged the students and triggered the protest.

Earlier, the students staged a protest at the entrance of the MIT Administrative Block at the Kamath Circle and at the MIT Quadrangle.

Registrar of Manipal University G.K. Prabhu told The Hindu that Ishaan had died of head injury at the Kasturba Hospital. The university would look into the other demands of the students. Ms. Garg had apologised for her insensitive remark, he said.