Fathima Latheef Suicide: IIT Madras Students Withdraw Hunger Strike, 3 Professors Questioned By CB-CID

IIT Madras students have withdrawn the hunger strike that was held after Fathima Latheef, a first-year humanities student allegedly committed suicide on November 9. Azhar Moideen, a final year humanities student, and Justin Joseph, pursuing Ph.D. in the same stream, had launched the "hunger strike" holding placards and also demanding internal inquiry, a promise for fair and unbiased investigation and setting up of a grievance redressal committee. Meanwhile, three professors were questioned by a special investigative team late on Monday evening. The names of these professors were reportedly mentioned by in her suicide note.

'ChintaBar' – the independent student body recognised by IIT Madras has tweeted that they are calling off the hunger strike with the hope that there will be no more deaths in the campus.  

We are calling off the hunger strike, with the hope that there will be no more deaths in IIT Madras. We thank the student community and the media for supporting us in this endeavour.

Long Live Students Unity!

— ChintaBAR (@ChintaBAR) November 19, 2019

Meanwhile, a special team of the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) was formed for investigation. 

Chennai: A special team of the Crime Branch, Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) was formed yesterday for investigation; three professors interrogated in IIT Madras guest house inside the campus. #TamilNadu https://t.co/NqbsMYUPsf

— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2019

Fathima Latheef, a first-year humanities student had committed suicide on November 9.

Father of the deceased student Abdul Latheef had last week called on Chief Minister K Palaniswami and the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police, seeking a fair, expeditious probe. Political parties, including DMK, too staged protests over the incident and the case, handled by the local police initially, has been transferred to the Central Crime Branch.

The IIT-M has said it is extending full cooperation to the police investigation and appealed to all concerned not to initiate or spread any rumours about the institute and let the inquiry be completed.

Meanwhile, Police sources on Monday indicated that questioning in the case was on but declined to elaborate. The fasting students are also demanding among others an external survey into the issues faced by the students inside.