Principal and Dean resign immediately, provide compensation; Protest intensifying in Kothamangalam college

KOCHI: Protest intensified at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering in Kothamangalam following the death of a student from Arunachal Pradesh. Michi Marpu, a second-year student of the college and a native of Arunachal Pradesh, committed suicide the other day. It was found that the student committed suicide due to low credit marks in the exam and the mental stress of falling a year back. While the credit score in colleges under the technical university is 18, the score in the MA college is 22. The students intensified their protest against this system.

Classmates said that Michi had not been allowed to enter the classroom for the past month, which left him in deep mental distress. Following the protests by students, the management announced that credit scores, among other things, would be brought in line with the university's standards. The college authorities had also stated that a decision could be taken to reduce the exam fee from Rs 6,000 to Rs 1,000. In addition, the management announced that students who were unable to register earlier due to low credit would be allowed to register for the fifth semester. The college authorities issued the order after the students announced an indefinite strike.

However, the students said that they would not accept the circular issued by the college and would continue the strike. The students started a protest in front of the college, blocked the teachers, and raised slogans against the principal. The students demanded the immediate resignation of the principal and dean. The students alleged that changing the law alone will not solve the problem and that the management has not yet taken responsibility for the death of Michi Marpu. The students stated that they will continue the strike until the management takes responsibility for the death.

The strike continues with demands such as publishing the assurances made by the management after Michi's death, providing compensation to the student's family, and accepting the reasonable demands of the students. The student body announced that all college students will be part of the strike. The student body demanded that the college's operations be halted until a decision is made on the issues and that it be ensured that no other student goes through what Michi suffered.

Michi's body was kept at Kalamassery Medical College for public viewing after the postmortem. The body will be flown to Itanagar via Delhi in the evening.