A group of IIT Bombay students began a hunger strike on October 2, escalating a protest of about 15 days over the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode.

The students are demanding an independent external investigation into Wakode’s death. They have presented an 18-point charter of demands to the administration.

Their demands include dissolving the institute’s internal inquiry committee, the resignation of Director Shireesh Kedare, and the suspension of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla until the criminal investigation is complete.

Wakode, a second-year BTech student, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18. His family has alleged he faced caste-based discrimination at the institute. The professor has denied the allegations.

The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the probe from Powai Police. An FIR has been registered under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The Crime Branch questioned the professor for about ten hours and sent Wakode’s devices for forensic analysis.

Wakode’s parents are on a parallel hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The investigation is ongoing and no final conclusion has been reached.