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IIT Ropar: Dalit student from Telangana dies by suicide, students learn of his death a week after he consumed poison

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1 year ago

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By Vikram Kilpady

A Dalit student at IIT Ropar, who consumed poison in his hostel room two weeks ago, died last Saturday in Chandigarh’s PGIMER.

The student, Marimesi Arun, hailed from Telangana and was in his fourth year studying Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. He would have graduated in barely three months.

A Hindi news report in the Jagran quoted unnamed sources saying Arun died by suicide owing to constant academic performance pressure and placement anxiety. The report added the news of his death broke in the IIT campus only this Monday, after a message was circulated for organising a condolence meeting.

Barring this report and the initial Jagran story, no news outlet has covered the incident, leave alone mentioning it in English media. The Jagran report added no official was willing to come on record about it. The Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering that Arun was studying in is said to have the most stringent grading system. Though Arun came through the preparatory batch for admission to the course and was given additional study for further assistance, the fear of not landing a placement has been named as a possible reason for his ending his life.

An IIT Ropar faculty member told APNLive.com on condition of anonymity that the condolence meeting was held at 12.30pm on Monday only after the deceased student’s body was sent with his parents to his hometown near Hyderabad, Telangana.

“Arun was doing poorly. His CGP was 5-point something out of 10. He had undergone the one-year preparatory course in English, Mathematics and Physics for students from marginalized and deprived backgrounds,” the faculty member said. He added that IIT Ropar authorities have downplayed the matter ever since Arun consumed poison and are now trying to hush it up.

Further, the authorities told Jagran that Arun was beset by personal problems and that academic pressure was not the reason why he chose death by suicide.

The faculty member said, “He was struggling against the toxic caste system prevalent in IITs. It is obviously why he didn’t get help to improve his scores. Nobody will speak the truth.”

“There was also a note he wrote in Telugu. Nobody has access. I am not sure whether his parents saw it. May be, it’s with the authorities. That letter will bring clarity,” the faculty member said.

The first news of Arun’s suicide, however, was posted on Reddit on March 19 under the thread Btechtards by an IIT Ropar student. It noted the pressure Arun was under and also that he had attempted suicide six months ago as well. The post said he was not offered the support that should have been provided. The post added both incidents were covered up by the administration.

Here’s the full Reddit post: “We recently got a message in one our groups that was promptly deleted, informing us of a suicide attempt by a final year student from Meta dept. The great thing? The attempt happened on Friday and we just got to know about it yesterday

“The student was under pressure due to acads and didn’t got placed and decided to take the major step. The student also allegedly took to such step 6 months before as well and was not offered the support that should have been provided. Both of these attempts was well covered up and hidden and by the administration.

“The acad pressure has been mounting up on various students and admin always bats an eye on such topics. The student is currently admitted in hospital. Mental health has been on a declining path in every clg around us nowadays.”

Comments on this post note Arun’s death after news broke in the campus.

If one goes by the Reddit post, Arun consumed poison on Holi, March 14. This was also the day a fire led to the discovery of large sums of cash in a Delhi bungalow. The story itself came to light later but is now all over the press and has breaking news coverage even after ten days. But Marimesi Arun, like other Dalit youngsters who die by their own hand in India’s IITs, remains unmourned.

The fact that deaths by suicide of Dalit IIT students receive barely any media attention is borne out by yesterday’s Supreme Court order directing the Delhi Police to register an FIR some two years after two Dalit students killed themselves at IIT Delhi.

B.Tech student Ayush Ashna was found hanging in his hostel room on 9 July, 2023. Within two months, B.Tech student Anil Kumar of Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district was found dead in his hostel room on September 1, 2023. The parents of the students had said the police did not register an FIR, although the suicides resulted from caste discrimination by IIT faculty and staff.

The government told the Lok Sabha in March 2023 that 33 IIT students had committed suicide in the last five years due to academic stress, family reasons, personal reasons and causes arising from mental health.

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Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth appointed next Army chief, to take charge on June 30

The government has appointed Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, currently the Vice Chief of Army Staff, as the next Army chief. He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi on June 30.

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2 days ago

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June 13, 2026

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The Centre has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), paving the way for a leadership transition in the Indian Army later this month. Lt Gen Seth, who currently serves as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi upon the latter’s retirement on June 30, 2026.

The appointment was announced on Saturday, with the government confirming that Lt Gen Seth will assume office from the afternoon of June 30. He will take over command after General Dwivedi completes his tenure as the Army’s 30th chief.

Veteran Armoured Corps officer

An officer of the Armoured Corps, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1986 after graduating from the National Defence Academy. Over nearly four decades of service, he has held a range of operational, command, staff and strategic appointments across the Army.

Before becoming Vice Chief on April 1, 2026, he served in several senior leadership roles, including heading the Southern Command and South Western Command. He has also commanded formations such as the Delhi Area and the XXI Corps during his military career.

Leadership transition in the Army

Lt Gen Seth’s elevation comes as the Army prepares for a change of command at the highest level. His appointment follows his move to Army Headquarters as Vice Chief earlier this year, a role he assumed on April 1.

The Ministry of Defence said the incoming Army chief brings extensive experience from command, operational and strategic assignments across diverse military domains.

With the appointment, Lt Gen Seth is set to lead the Indian Army through the next phase of its modernisation and operational preparedness efforts after taking charge at the end of the month.

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IAF AN-32 aircraft crashes while landing at Assam’s Jorhat airbase, five personnel killed

Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed while landing at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry into the accident.

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2 days ago

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June 13, 2026

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An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of five Air Force personnel. The accident occurred during a routine sortie and triggered an emergency response at the airbase.

According to the IAF, the aircraft met with the accident during the landing phase at Jorhat. The force later confirmed the loss of five personnel and expressed condolences to their families. A court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.

Court of inquiry ordered

The Indian Air Force said a formal investigation will examine the cause of the accident. Officials have not yet disclosed what may have led to the crash, and the inquiry is expected to review technical, operational and environmental factors.

Reports indicated that the co-pilot survived the accident and is undergoing medical treatment.

Personnel who lost their lives

The IAF identified the five personnel killed in the accident as:

  • Squadron Leader Prashant Singh
  • Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar
  • Sergeant Jitendra Sharma
  • Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat
  • Agniveervayu Danish Alam

The Air Force said it stands with the bereaved families during this difficult time.

AN-32’s role in the Air Force

The AN-32 is a twin-engine transport aircraft that has been a key part of the Indian Air Force’s logistics operations for decades. It is widely used to transport personnel, equipment and supplies, particularly in remote and high-altitude regions. India remains one of the largest operators of the aircraft type.

The crash comes months after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft accident in Assam that claimed the lives of two IAF pilots.

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Delhi records coolest day of June so far as rain and thunderstorms bring relief from heat

Delhi recorded its coolest day of June after rain and thunderstorms caused a sharp drop in temperatures. IMD has forecast more showers and gusty winds before temperatures begin rising again.

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2 days ago

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June 13, 2026

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Delhi weather today

Delhi witnessed its coolest day of June so far after widespread rain and thunderstorm activity caused temperatures to drop significantly across the national capital. The change in weather provided much-needed relief from the intense summer heat that had gripped the region in recent weeks.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rain and thunderstorms over the past 24 hours brought a noticeable decline in both maximum and minimum temperatures. Official weather observations showed that Delhi’s maximum temperatures fell well below normal levels, while several areas experienced strong winds and rainfall.

More rain and thunderstorms likely

The IMD has forecast additional thunderstorms, light to moderate rain and gusty winds for Delhi and nearby areas through Saturday. A yellow alert remains in place, with weather conditions expected to stay unsettled before gradually improving.

Weather experts have attributed the recent change to the influence of a western disturbance and associated weather systems affecting northwestern India. While the disturbance is gradually moving away, its impact is expected to continue for a short period.

Temperatures may rise again next week

Meteorologists expect the pleasant conditions to last for another couple of days. After that, temperatures are likely to begin rising again as rainfall activity decreases. The IMD’s latest forecast also indicates a gradual increase in temperatures by the middle of next week.

Recent weather systems have brought relief not only to Delhi but also to parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other northern states, where thunderstorms and rain have helped ease heatwave conditions.

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