IIT student Fathima Latheef's suicide case referred to CBI by Tamil Nadu govt

IIT student Fathima Latheef's suicide case referred to CBI by Tamil Nadu govt

On November 8, Fathima Latheef, a 19-year-old undergraduate student of Humanities at IIT-Madras, allegedly committed suicide in her hostel room.

Shalini LoboChennai

December 15, 2019

Fathima Latheef, an undergraduate student of Humanities at IIT-Madras allegedly committed suicide in her hostel room on November 8. (File photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

On November 8, 19-year-old Fathima Latheef committed suicide in her hostel room

Fathima Latheef was an undergraduate student of Humanities at IIT-Madras

Tamil Nadu government has referred the suicide case to CBI

Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT Madras) student Fathima Latheef's suicide case has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation by the Tamil Nadu government.

The State has referred the case to CBI after Fathima's family insisted that the case should be transferred to the CBI.

On November 8, 19-year-old Fathima Latheef, an undergraduate student of Humanities at IIT-Madras allegedly committed suicide in her hostel room.

Preliminary police investigations suspected that the student, a native of Kerala, was depressed because of poor performance in the examinations. Police initially believed that her low marks were the reason behind taking the dire step.

However, her family claimed that her suicide note revealed she was constantly under harassment by her professor at IIT Madras and said, "it hurt her dignity". Fathima Latheef's father alleged that his daughter was subjected to religious discrimination by a faculty member.

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IIT suicide victim Fathima Latheef case transferred to CBI, city commissioner visits campus - Edex Live

IIT Madras

Published: 14th November 2019

IIT suicide victim Fathima Latheef case transferred to CBI, city commissioner visits campus


Fathima, a first-year Masters was pursuing her five-year integrated MA programme in the Humanities and Development Studies department of the institute



Edex Live

Edex Live

Fathima Latheef

Five days after IIT Madras student Fathima Latheef's suicide, the case was transferred to CBI on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Chennai police commissioner A.K.Viswanathan visited the campus and conducted an enquiry for a few hours as well. Fathima's family has been demanding a CBI probe over the last few days.

Fathima, a first-year Masters was pursuing her five-year integrated MA programme in the Humanities and Development Studies department of the institute. On November 9, she hung herself in her hostel room and left behind a suicide note on her phone accusing and naming professors who had allegedly pushed her to take the drastic step. She specifically names one particular professor who she says is the direct cause of her death.

Ever since the note has gone viral on social media, several people have demanded that immediate action be taken against the professor. In light of mounting pressure, the police have now transfered the case to the CBI and have promised speedy justice.