Guwahati, 18th June: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has formally requested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to transfer the investigation into the tragic death of IIT-Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This appeal comes in the wake of startling revelations from a recent forensic report commissioned by the Calcutta High Court.
The report detailed a gunshot wound on Ahmed’s upper left neck and a stab wound on the right side, prompting Sarma to stress the urgency of uncovering the truth behind what he termed a “horrific crime.” He emphasized that justice must be served not only to bring closure to Ahmed’s grieving family but also to ensure accountability for anyone involved in covering up the incident.
Sarma’s letter, disclosed to the media on Tuesday, reiterated his earlier request made in October 2022 for a thorough investigation into the 23-year-old’s untimely demise. Ahmed was found dead in his hostel room on October 14, 2022, with initial assertions of suicide by IIT-Kharagpur authorities, despite claims from his family of visible injury marks.
Following his mother’s plea in May 2023, the Calcutta High Court intervened, ordering the exhumation of Ahmed’s remains and a subsequent post-mortem examination to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death. The court’s directive aimed to bring clarity to a case that has stirred significant public outcry and highlighted the need for a fair and transparent inquiry.
Ahmed, hailing from Tinsukia in Assam and pursuing mechanical engineering at IIT-Kharagpur, has become a symbol of justice-seeking in the academic community, underscoring the gravity of ensuring accountability and transparency in investigating such sensitive cases.
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