IIT-B suicide: Min seeks probe, students want director to resign

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Union Minister of State for Social

Justice Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday demanded a thorough inquiry into the death of a “Dalit” student at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) amid allegations that he was facing discrimination due to his caste.

Darshan Solanki (18), a first-year student of the BTech (Chemical) course, died after allegedly jumping off the seventh floor of a hostel building on the Powai campus of the institute on Sunday.

Athwale, who was on a visit to IIT-B on Wednesday, said, “I have demanded a thorough investigation into the matter. There are allegations of the BTech student facing caste discrimination. I have

We demand resignation of the institute director (Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri)... and hope the administration will start the much-needed learning process. Data from the SC/ST Cell points to a lack of institutional support for SC/ST students at IIT-B.

—APPSC, Student body asked the authorities to look into this angle as well,” adding, “Action should be taken if required.”

IIT-B on Tuesday rejected charges of caste bias in the institute and said initial inputs from Solanki’s friends suggested there was no discrimination after a student group—the Ambedkar Periyar

Phule Study Circle (APPSC)—called Solanki’s death an “institutional murder”. The institute urged students to wait until the police and internal inquiries were completed.

Athawale said Solanki, who hailed from Ahmedabad, called his father on Sunday and informed him that except for one paper, his other first semester exams had gone well. His father had assured him not to worry and told him he would visit Mumbai soon. However, half-an-hour later, Solanki jumped from his hostel and died, he said.

Athawale also said he will make efforts to facilitate some financial aid to Solanki's family members from Maharashtra and Gujarat governments.

Meanwhile, the APPSC has called for the director’s resignation.

COUNTER ATTACK

First India Bureau

Pune: Even as the Income Tax (I-T) department’s “survey” at the Delhi and Mumbai offices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) continued for the second day on Wednesday, the Pune unit of the Congress staged a “silent” protest against the action. Protesters also claimed media houses and journalists have been under pressure since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014.

The I-T department’s survey comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary “India: The Modi Question” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots. Unsurprisingly, this has led to a sharp political debate with the BJP accus-

NCP funtionary arrested for assault on woman lawyer

Pune (PTI): Police have arrested a Nationalist Congress Party functionary and three others from Pune city for allegedly assaulting a 25-year-old woman lawyer after an altercation, officials said.

The alleged incident took place on Monday night near SB Road following which the woman filed a complaint at Chhatushrungi police station, they said.

The woman honked the horn of her twowheeler to overtake a car in which NCP Pune city vice-president Dayanand Irkal was travelling. An angry Irkal came out of the car and allegedly started abusing the lawyer and also hit her, leaving her injured, an official said.

A woman travelling in Irkal’s car also allegedly hit the lawyer and threatened her, he said.

‘DEMOCRACY IN INDIA FACING TROUBLE’

ing the British broadcaster of “venomous reporting” and the opposition questioning the timing of the move.

Pune unit president Arvind Shinde and other Congress workers covered their mouths with black bands during the protest held outside the Patrakar Bhavan here.

Shinde said the Congress condemns the I-T department’s action and blamed the central government for it. “We feel that the (I-T department action) is connected to BBC documentary on the Gujarat riots, which came out just two weeks back” he said.

The survey is part of an inquiry related to international taxation and transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary companies, officials said on Tuesday. While there has been no statement from the I-T department, the BBC has said it was cooperating with the authorities.

MLA Naik urges state to not collect toll on Airoli-Katai road

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: Ganesh

Naik, the MLA of Airoli, has urged the state government to not collect any tolls on the AiroliKatai elevated road due to its significant contribution to reducing travel time between Dombivli-Thane and Mumbai.

On Tuesday, during his inspection of the project, Naik also required entry and exit points for residents from Navi

Airoli MLA inspected the project, said he would discuss issues with MMRDA chief

Mumbai to help unclog their commute from Navi Mumbai to KalyanDombivali and its surrounding areas.

MLA Naik said he is going to discuss with the MMRDA Commissioner the route to ascend towards Mumbai. He was accompanied by the former MLA of Airoli assembly constituency Sandeep Naik, former mayor Sagar Naik, people's representatives, office bearers, municipal corporation and senior officials. Fortunately, Navi Mumbai authorities were able to accommodate his demand.