A group of undergraduate students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, has released a public statement expressing deep concern over campus safety, the growing involvement of external political entities, and mounting disruptions to academic life.
The student collective, operating under the name IITB for Bharat, voiced apprehension regarding the overall security of students, faculty members, staff, and residents living within the campus grounds in light of recent demonstration activities. The group claimed that external agitators had attempted to breach the premises by scaling boundary walls, while also pointing to demonstrations staged by political organisations directly outside the main entrance.
The statement questioned whether the core objective of securing justice was being overshadowed by broader political agendas. Furthermore, the students noted that recurring gate closures and entry restrictions were heavily impacting daily routines, warning that research work, laboratory sessions, examinations, and institutional events faced potential delays or cancellations.
The collective stressed that all enrolled students residing on campus or commuting for classes should be able to move freely without obstruction. These campus tensions follow ongoing demonstrations demanding accountability and action regarding a student's tragic death by suicide.
Adding to the calls for calm, former Board of Governors chairperson Sharad Saraf issued a separate appeal urging all political parties to exercise restraint. While acknowledging the profound grief and concern surrounding the student's death, Saraf emphasized that the safety, well-being, and academic progression of every student must take absolute priority.
Saraf cautioned that ongoing disruptions risked compromising academic performance and called on stakeholders to protect a peaceful, stable environment conducive to education and research. He warned against the dangers of prolonged turmoil and reiterated that the futures of the twelve thousand students enrolled at the institute should not be compromised by political interference.