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IIT Madras student's death: DGP writes to Tamil Nadu DGP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As per directions from chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan , state police chief Loknath Behera has written to his counterpart in Tamil Nadu seeking a speedy and effective investigation into the alleged suicide of Fathima Latheef, a Malayali student in IIT Madras.

In his reply to a submission by Eravipuram MLA M Noushad - read in the assembly on Friday by public works minister G Sudhakaran - the CM said necessary directions have been given to the DGP after the deceased's parents met him and submitted a memorandum on Thursday.

The DGP has already written to the TN police chief in this regard, he said.

It was on November 8 that Fathima, a first-year student of humanities and social sciences in IIT Madras and a native of Kilikolloor in Kollam district, was found dead inside the campus.


Abdul Latheef sought state govt’s intervention


The girl’s father, in his memorandum to the CM, termed her death as mysterious and sought the state government’s immediate intervention to ensure a free and fair probe.

Currently, a case has been registered under CrPC 174 (unnatural death) at Kottoorpuram police station in Tamil Nadu, the CM informed the assembly. “The state DGP also contacted the Chennai city police commissioner, who informed that the case has been handed over to the central crime branch under him and that both the commissioner and his deputy are supervising the investigation,” the CM said.

“The investigation is being carried out by a team headed by a woman police officer in the rank of additional superintendent of police, who has experience of working with the CBI,” the CM said.

Earlier, while making his submission, Noushad alleged that the Tamil Nadu police have taken a ‘negative attitude’ in the case and that a fair investigation will not be possible unless the state government intervened. “The student seems to have undergone extreme mental harassment, and her suicide note clearly accuses a teacher,” he said.

On Friday, higher education minister K T Jaleel visited Fathima’s family members in Kollam and assured support from the government.



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