A 20-year-old engineering student from Arunachal Pradesh was found dead at his rented accommodation in Kerala’s Kothamangalam area, prompting police to begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. The incident has also led Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M John to assure that a detailed inquiry will be conducted.
The deceased has been identified as Michi Marpu, a resident of Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district. He was pursuing a BTech degree at MA College of Engineering in Kothamangalam and was staying in a rented house at Kozhipilly along with fellow students.
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According to police, Marpu was found unconscious inside his room on Saturday evening. He was immediately taken to Kothamangalam Taluk Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are examining the circumstances that preceded the incident.
Investigators have recovered a three-page note from the student’s room, reportedly written in English and Hindi. Police are examining the contents of the note as part of their inquiry. Preliminary information suggests that academic concerns, including the possibility of losing an academic year because of a low credit score, may have been weighing on the student.
However, officials have stressed that the exact reasons behind his death can only be established after a comprehensive investigation. The incident has also sparked concern among students at the engineering college. Student representatives have announced plans for a protest, raising questions over the institution’s academic credit requirements and related policies.
Leaders of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and KSU claimed that the autonomous college requires students to secure a minimum of 22 credits, while engineering colleges affiliated with Kerala Technological University generally have a lower requirement of 18 credits. They also alleged that the year-back system continues to be followed at the institution despite its suspension under KTU. The college has not issued an immediate response to the allegations.
Police said a postmortem examination will be conducted after the deceased student’s relatives arrive in Kothamangalam. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and question relevant individuals to establish what led to the student’s death. Minister Roji M John has assured that all aspects of the case will be examined thoroughly.
