Pattern of Deaths in Elite Institutes? BAMCEF Gujarat Pushes for SIT Inquiry into ST Student’s Death at IIM-B

Bangalore: The death of Nilay Kailashbhai Patel, a Scheduled Tribe student pursuing an MBA at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, has raised serious concerns about the safety and treatment of students from marginalized communities in elite educational institutions. Patel’s body was discovered on the hostel campus road by a security guard around 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2025. The postmortem report indicated multiple injuries and shock as the cause of death, which could be suggestive of an altercation.

Following this incident, Prikshit B.Rathod, a social activist from BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation), Surat, Gujarat, has written to the Bangalore Police Commissioner demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the matter.

The activist has raised multiple concerns regarding Patel’s death and broader issues affecting Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) students in premier institutions like IIMs, IITs, and medical colleges.

Key Facts and Circumstances Surrounding Patel’s Death

Patel had celebrated his birthday with friends in a hostel block on the night of Saturday, January 4, 2025.

He was last seen returning from his friend’s room at 11:30 p.m. that night.

His injured body was found the next morning on the hostel campus.

According to his peers, Patel was a brilliant student and had recently secured a high-paying job in an e-commerce firm, which he was set to join on Monday.

BAMCEF has highlighted that his death coincided with a Supreme Court hearing on a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) concerning student grievances and equal opportunities in higher education.

The organization has linked his case to a pattern of violence against SC, ST, and OBC students in elite institutions, alleging a systematic targeting by caste-based groups.

BAMCEF has put forth several key demands in the investigation:

1. SIT Investigation: A special team should be constituted to conduct an impartial investigation into Patel’s death.

2. Application of Atrocities Act: Given that Patel belonged to a Scheduled Tribe, the case should be registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

3. Murder Investigation: The case should be treated as a murder rather than a suicide under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS).

4. CCTV Footage Analysis: Authorities should retrieve and examine footage from all hostel blocks, especially ‘F’ block, from 10:30 p.m. on Saturday to 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.

5. Identification of Attendees: A detailed record of all individuals who attended Patel’s birthday celebration should be maintained, along with their statements.

6. Panel Postmortem: A second autopsy should be conducted to verify the cause of death and determine whether Patel consumed any intoxicants or poisonous substances.

7. Forensic Report Disclosure: If a forensic examination has already been conducted, its findings should be made public.

8. Time of Death: The postmortem report should explicitly mention Patel’s exact time of death.

Pattern of Deaths in Higher Educational Institutions

Advocate Prikshit B.Rathod pointed to a disturbing trend of deaths among SC, ST, and OBC students in higher education institutions, alleging that many of these cases are dismissed as suicides despite strong indications of foul play.

According to the available data, between 2004 and 2024, 115 deaths in IITs alone have been classified as suicides, but many bear the hallmarks of targeted killings. Rathod argues that caste-based violence in prestigious institutions is often overlooked, with systemic discrimination playing a role in such deaths.

The letter also raises concerns about potential involvement of organized caste-based groups who may be targeting students from marginalized communities to prevent their rise in government and private sector positions.

In addition to an SIT probe, BAMCEF has urged the government to take concrete measures to protect SC, ST, and OBC students in elite institutions. This includes establishing a robust grievance redressal mechanism and implementing stringent policies against caste-based discrimination in hostels and academic environments.