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IIT Bombay students began a hunger strike at Justice Corner on October 2, 2026, after days of protest following the September 18 death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. Students are calling for an independent investigation and institutional accountability, along with changes to student welfare and disciplinary systems. The claims surrounding Wakode’s death remain contested in the reporting reviewed; no final investigative findings are established here.
Why are IIT Bombay students on hunger strike?
Hindustan Times reported on October 2 that the hunger strike began after 15 days of protests over Wakode’s death. Its October 3 follow-up described the action as planned for two days. Students have criticized the institute’s handling of the case and sought an inquiry independent of the institute’s existing process.
News reports describe Wakode as having been found dead in his hostel room after he was allegedly caught with a phone during a mid-semester examination. That exam-related account is reported context, not an independently established explanation of his death. The reporting does not establish that any individual caused his death.
What are the students demanding?
The demands have been reported in different dated versions, rather than as one unchanged list. India Today reported a 10-demand list on October 2; The Indian Express reported an earlier 18-point charter on September 21. Their shared themes include investigation, accountability, student welfare, disciplinary procedures and protections for protesters.
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The October 2 list
India Today’s October 2 account described calls for an external inquiry committee, audits of student welfare, changes to disciplinary procedures and the SC/ST Cell, and assurances that protesters would not face action. Hindustan Times also reported demands including administrative accountability and calls for the director’s resignation and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla’s suspension. These are demands made by students, not findings that allegations against any person have been proven.
The earlier September 21 charter
The Indian Express reported that the earlier charter proposed a timeline for the investigation, an open house, better counselling and medical care, and a psychiatrist available on call 24/7. It said the director signed the charter during a meeting. The report also said that, at that time, the institute had not issued a formal statement. A reported signature does not establish that the charter’s measures were subsequently implemented.
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What is established—and what remains disputed?
Students and Wakode’s parents have alleged caste discrimination and harassment and raised concerns about the institute’s handling of the case. Hindustan Times reported that students and organizations sought an independent investigation and criticized an initial institute statement. These are allegations and calls for inquiry, not adjudicated findings.
The Indian Express reported that the Faculty Forum defended Doolla’s conduct, saying it followed approved invigilation procedures. That is the forum’s position; the available reports do not provide a final investigative determination resolving the competing claims.
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Timeline of the protests and reported demands
| Date | Reported development |
|---|---|
| September 18, 2026 | Wakode died. Coverage described his death as suicide and reported an examination-related allegation as context. |
| September 21, 2026 | The Indian Express reported on an 18-point student charter, the director’s signature at a meeting and the absence of a formal institute statement at that time. |
| October 2, 2026 | Hindustan Times and India Today reported that students began a hunger strike at Justice Corner. India Today published a later, 10-demand list. |
| October 3, 2026 | Hindustan Times reported that the planned hunger strike would last two days and summarized several demands. The reporting available here does not establish its outcome. |
What is not yet clear from the reported updates?
The reports do not establish whether the strike concluded as planned, which demands—if any—were implemented, or what an independent investigation has found. They also do not establish a verified campus-wide suicide-rate statistic relevant to this incident. Later updates should be read with attention to the date and version of each demand list, the independence and membership of any inquiry committee, formal institute responses, documented implementation and the status of the protest.
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