In a heart-wrenching incident, a third-year Electrical Engineering student of IIT-Kharagpur, Shawn Malik, was found dead in his hostel room at Azad Hall of Residence on Sunday. Malik’s parents, who had come to visit him with food as part of their weekly routine, discovered the tragic scene after forcibly opening his locked door with the help of security guards.
The 21-year-old was reportedly a bright student with strong academic performance and cordial relationships with faculty and peers. IIT-Kharagpur Director Amit Patra confirmed no suicide note was found, and there was no indication of foul play. The student’s body has been sent to Medinipur Medical College for autopsy, and the post-mortem was conducted under videographed documentation.
The police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the incident. “The reason for the extreme step is unclear, and we are thoroughly examining all angles,” said a senior police official.
This incident follows several tragic deaths of students at IIT-Kharagpur in recent years, raising concerns about mental health and support systems on campus. In June 2024, a student, Devika Pillai, was found deceased on campus, and similar incidents were reported in 2023 and 2022.
The institution expressed its condolences to Shawn Malik’s family and assured full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. Efforts are underway to support the student community during this difficult time.
