Fifth student death at BITS Goa sparks political outcry

PANAJI: The death of a 19-year-old second-year MSc physics student at the BITS Pilani K K Birla campus on Friday triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, who pointed out that this is the fifth death on campus this year. The Bengaluru resident’s death amplified demands for stronger campus safety measures and urgent mental health interventions at BITS Pilani Goa, with opposition parties uniting in their call for an independent investigation.GFP president Vijai Sardesai termed the recurring deaths a “pattern” and not isolated incidents. “This is not an incident, it’s a pattern that demands a serious independent investigation. How can young lives be lost inside a premier institute without accountability? Every death is a question mark on the system’s conscience,” Sardesai said.State Congress president Amit Patkar described the latest case as a “systemic failure”. He demanded a judicial probe, a 30-day safety and mental health audit of the campus, and accountability from both the institute and Goa govt. “Young lives are not collateral,” Patkar said.RG president Manoj Parab demanded strict monitoring of private institutes. “Govt cannot stay silent. There must be strict control on private institutes and universities, and a proper probe should be done to find the truth,” he said.Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao called for immediate govt intervention, pointing out that police investigations into past student deaths were still pending. “There must be focus on these cases to prevent such incidents. Revisiting the syllabus and engaging with the student community are crucial steps towards addressing this grave issue,” he said.