Family members of 18-year-old IIT Madras student from Kerala, Fathima Latheef, who allegedly committed suicide in her hostel room on Saturday, alleged that harassment by faculty members forced Fathima to take the extreme step.
Abdul Latheef, father of Fathima, said the suicide note retrieved from the mobile phone of his daughter clearly indicated the involvement of the teachers, reported Onmanorama.
Fathima, a first year MA humanities and development studies (integrated) student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, had joined the college in July 2019.
Her parents have alleged that Fathima has been facing mental harassment for nearly a month, reported Malayala Manorama.
Latheef, who is working in Saudi Arabia for the past 25 years, alleged that Tamil Nadu police have been trying to cover up the suicide and accused the cops of spreading false information. He cited reports that Fathima had killed herself as she could not score good marks in the first semester examination to buttress his point.
Fathima was brilliant in her studies and a topper in her class, he said and rubbished reports that she had taken the extreme step as she was worried about her academic performance. “She scored highest marks in her class in the last examination. Her friends are giving contradictory statements and seemed very scared,” he said.
Latheef said his daughter had acquired first rank in the All India IIT entrance examination.
Fathima had visited her home at Kollam on October 1 and had returned on October 8 (Friday). When her mother Sajitha tried to contact her on Friday, she spoke to her and said she would switch off the phone as she was preparing for her first semester examinations. That was the last conversation Fathima had with her mother, Latheef said.
Kerala CM offers to help
On Tuesday, Latheef met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and sought a fair probe into the circumstances leading to Fathima's death.
The chief minister assured Latheef that he would take up the issue with the Tamil Nadu chief minister.
Memoranda have been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and National Human Rights commission seeking a proper and fair probe.
Mobile evidence
Fathima had narrated all the harassment she faced from her teachers in a notepad on her tablet. On Saturday, when her mother tried to contact her, the phone was switched off following which she contacted one of her friends and asked her to check on Fathima. Later, she was informed by the hostel warden that her daughter had committed suicide.
Latheef alleged that the police had not had not listed Fathima's mobile phone as an evidence. “When we switched on the phone, we were shocked to see the screen saver. It asked us to check the notes on her tablet. While browsing through the notes, we found evidences for harassment by a faculty member (name withheld to protect identity),” he said.
On Saturday, IIT Madras, in a brief statement, had expressed deep grief over the student's death. "IIT Madras faculty, staff and students extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends and other near and dear ones of the deceased student. This is indeed an irreparable loss to the institute and the family. May her soul rest in peace," the statement read.
(With inputs from Onmanorama and PTI)