Alleged negligence death of a student sparks protest at NIT-Agartala, Minister visits campus

Amidst protest by students at NIT-Agartala continued for the second day on August 1 against alleged negligence that resulted in the death of a student, the local MLA and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday visited the campus and held discussion with authorities to defuse the tension inside campus.

The protest, attended by a few hundred students, is mainly taking place in front of the administration building of the campus located in Jirania under West Tripura district after alleged negligence by the NIT administration for the death of a Hyderabad based IIIT student.

After the protestors also alleged that NIT Agartala officials are trying to cover up the negligence by claiming that the deceased had a “pre-existing condition”

The protestors claim that Abhijeet Panda, a second-year student, was a victim of utter negligence on the part of the faculty and campus hospital doctors. Panda developed severe pain in both of his legs and his fellow students had to take him to the hospital in an auto rickshaw after failing to get an ambulance on call.

The doctors who attended to Abhijeet allegedly did not treat him properly and did not refer him to a specialised hospital. Jathin Pyla, a protesting student said that he was critical, but the doctors only sprayed pain relief on his legs and advised him to take Paracetamol tablets and ORS drink.

The protestors were shouting “justice for Abhijeet” in their agitation at the Knowledge Park, an assembly point on the NIT Agartala campus. They also launched a digital campaign on social media with a call “let’s come together to demand justice and accountability”.

The protestors also alleged that NIT Agartala officials are trying to cover up the negligence by claiming that the deceased had a “pre-existing condition”. The protesting students are demanding a high-level probe into the entire incident and those responsible for the alleged negligence leading to the death of Abhijeet Panda be held accountable.

While Minister Sushanta Chowdhury after his meeting with the director of NIT, Agartala and other officials said that authorities had admitted their lapses and unfortunate Abhijeet Panda, a student of IIIT died when he returned back to his home city of Hyderabad.

Chowdhury said that after primary treatment at NIT campus, Abhijeet Panda had also taken the treatment from outdoor (OPD) of GB Hospital and he had to go home and unfortunately, he died there.

Chowdhury assured all agitated students medical facilities inside the campus to be uplifted and authorities have also taken its consideration to provide relief to bereaved family.