Agartala, August 1, 2024: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus witnessed intense student protests for the second consecutive day following the tragic death of Abhijit Panda, a student of Triple IT, allegedly due to medical negligence at the NIT Hospital.
The unrest began on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday morning as students gathered to voice their grievances. According to the protesting students, Abhijit Panda fell seriously ill and was taken to the NIT Hospital by his friends. However, they claim that the hospital staff failed to provide adequate treatment, leading to his untimely death. “Abhijit was not given the necessary medical attention despite our repeated requests,” said one of his friends.
The situation escalated quickly as news of Abhijit’s death spread across the hostel premises. Students, along with members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), staged a sit-in protest demanding justice for Abhijit and accountability from the hospital authorities. “We cannot tolerate such negligence. The medical services at NIT Hospital have been subpar for a long time,” stated an NSUI leader.
The hostel authorities, upon learning about the incident, rushed to the scene but were unable to pacify the agitated students. The police were called in to restore order, and it took nearly an hour to bring the situation under control. Despite the intervention, the cause of Abhijit’s death remains unclear, adding to the students’ frustration.
On Thursday morning, the protests resumed with renewed vigor. Students reiterated their demands for a thorough investigation into the incident. “We want a fair inquiry to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again,” said a student protester.
In response to the mounting pressure, the NIT authorities have assured the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the matter. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Abhijit Panda. An inquiry committee will be formed to look into the allegations and ensure justice,” said an NIT official.
However, the students remain skeptical and have warned of a larger movement if their demands are not met. “If the authorities do not take concrete action, we will escalate our protests,” warned the NSUI leader.
The incident has highlighted the deficiencies in the medical services at NIT Hospital, with students expressing long-standing dissatisfaction. “We have been facing issues with the hospital’s services for a long time. This tragic incident is a wake-up call for the authorities,” said another student.
As the inquiry committee prepares to investigate the circumstances surrounding Abhijit’s death, the NIT community mourns the loss of a promising student and hopes for swift and just resolution.
