18 hrs ago
Fresh Medical Board Sought Four Years After IIT Kharagpur Death
Faizan Ahmed was a student at IIT Kharagpur who was found dead in October 2022.
His family believes he was murdered after refusing to take part in ragging.
The first examination of his body did not clearly explain how he died.
A second examination, conducted after his body was exhumed, suggested that the death could have been a homicide.
A court later said the investigation should rely on the second report.
Now, the state government wants another group of medical experts to review the different findings.
Faizan’s family disagrees and wants investigators to continue using the second report.
The Calcutta High Court will decide whether to allow the new medical board.
The family says too much time has already passed without a clear answer.
The West Bengal government has asked for a fresh medical board to review conflicting post-mortem findings in Faizan Ahmed’s death.
Faizan, a third-year mechanical engineering student, was found dead at IIT Kharagpur in October 2022.
An initial post-mortem was called inconclusive, while a 2023 examination suggested the death could have been homicidal.
Faizan’s family alleges senior students murdered him after he refused to participate in ragging.
The Calcutta High Court will consider the government’s request on September 29.
- Who
- Faizan Ahmed, a third-year mechanical engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, his family, the West Bengal government, and the Calcutta High Court.
- What
- The state government has sought permission to form a fresh medical board to examine conflicting post-mortem reports concerning Faizan Ahmed’s death.
- Where
- Faizan was found in Lala Lajpat Roy Hall of Residence on the IIT Kharagpur campus; his body was later exhumed from a burial ground in Dibrugarh, Assam.
- When
- Faizan was found dead in October 2022; the second post-mortem took place in May 2023; the court heard the latest request on September 15 and scheduled the next hearing for September 29.
- Why
- The government cited discrepancies and diverse medical information in the two post-mortem reports, while Faizan’s family alleges murder linked to ragging.
Faizan’s Family
West Bengal Government
Use of medical evidence
Faizan’s Family
The family wants the investigation to proceed on the basis of the second post-mortem report, which suggested the death could have been homicidal.
West Bengal Government
The government says discrepancies between the two reports and other medical information require a fresh opinion from an expert medical board.
Timing of the request
Faizan’s Family
The family says four years have passed and views the new request as a delay in determining the cause of death.
West Bengal Government
The government is seeking an additional medical review before proceeding, citing the conflicting findings that emerged during the investigation.
Alleged circumstances of death
Faizan’s Family
The family alleges Faizan was murdered by senior students because he refused to participate in ragging.
West Bengal Government
The government’s request concerns the medical evidence; the articles do not state a final official conclusion about whether the death was murder.
Key facts
- Student
- Faizan Ahmed, a third-year mechanical engineering student
- Death discovered
- October 2022, at Lala Lajpat Roy Hall of Residence on the IIT Kharagpur campus
- First post-mortem
- Conducted at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital; described as inconclusive
- Second post-mortem
- Conducted in May 2023 after court-ordered exhumation; its findings suggested possible homicide
- Investigation
- Justice Rajasekhar Mantha ordered a CID-led special investigation team after the second report
- Government request
- A fresh medical board to review conflicting medical findings
- Next hearing
- September 29 before the Calcutta High Court
Quotes
Faizan Ahmed’s family lawyer
Lawyer representing Faizan Ahmed’s family in the high court case
“We are surprised that instead of going ahead with the probe... referring to the second post-mortem report, the state has now prayed to constitute a medical board. Four years have passed since his death. Is the state government not serious about finding out the reasons for the death?”
telegraphindia.com
Rehana Ahmed
Faizan Ahmed’s mother
“Despite all this, there has been no progress. Now we are coming to know that the government has sought a fresh medical board. We are very disappointed.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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