The family of the IIT Kharagpur student from Assam whose body was found in his hostel room on October 14 has moved Calcutta High Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the death.
The family of Faizan Ahmed, who was a third-year student of mechanical engineering, submitted in the court that they are “dissatisfied with the inept and tardy investigation by the local police authorities”.
The family had lodged an FIR with Kharagpur Town police station alleging that the 23-year-old was murdered. The writ petition, filed by Faizan’s parents Salim and Rehana Ahmed on Monday, says: “Your petitioners state that although more than two weeks have passed since the discovery of their only child and FIR, the investigation has proceeded in a tardy, rudderless and lackadaisical manner....”
“Being highly aggrieved and dissatisfied with the inept and tardy investigation by the local police authorities…. Orders should be passed directing the investigation in Kharagpur Town police station to be transferred to the CBI or CID or special investigation team constituted by this court and continued under the strict supervision of this court.”
Justice Rajasekhar Mantha accepted the petition and said it would be taken up for hearing on Thursday.
The petitioners have alleged they have not been given a copy of the post-mortem report despite repeated requests.
When contacted, investigation officer Samar Layak declined to comment.
The Telegraph had on October 26 reported that Faizan’s family was planning to move courtbecause they were dissatisfied with the probe.
A senior IIT official said the student had died on October 11.
His partially decomposed body was found in his room at the Lala Lajpat Rai Hall of Residence on October 14.
The death triggered unrest on the campus with students accusing the IIT authorities of lacking in “empathy” while dealing with the family after the death.
Faizan’s mother Rehana Ahmed said: “The police are disinclined to share the post-mortem report. The report is key to determining the cause of the death. An FIR was lodged on October 16. So far we have not heard anything from the police. Left with no option, we have moved the court for justice.”
The petition quotes from a Facebook page of IIT students to allege that some of Faizan’s friends did not like his refusal to participate in a group event, which the family says amounts to “collective ragging”.
He was apparently “insulted and humiliated in front of his 130-odd batchmates”.
“During student elections in (RP Hall) of IIT Kharagpur, there were serious fights between the seniors and juniors. Faizan had led a movement for strict action against seniors….As a reprisal, the current hall council members separated his group mates,” the petition says.
About one-and-a-half months back, Faizan had shifted to the Lala Rajapt Rai hostel without informing the authorities, an IIT official said.
“These events corroborate Faizan is a victim of a preplanned murder,” said lawyer Ranajit Chatterjee, who is representing Faizan’s family.
“IIT Kharagpur is open to investigation by any trustworthy agency,” said deputy director Amit Patra.
