A first-year student of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Ranchi was found dead in his hostel room late on Saturday (October 10, 2026), leading to a chaotic situation on campus and the intervention of the police.
The student was from Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, police said on Sunday (October 11, 2026).
The incident came to light at around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday (October 10) after his friends, worried because he was not opening his hostel room door, broke down the door and found him unresponsive. The friends then took him to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
As the news of the death spread on campus, chaotic scenes were witnessed as students became agitated. The police were called to control the situation.
The cause of the student’s death remains to be ascertained. Police are likely to question other students living in the hostel to gather more information about the incident.
Students alleged that the institute’s director was responsible for the hostel’s poor management and should be sacked. During the protest, students blocked the Khelgaon-Tatisilwai road. The blockade resulted in long lines of vehicles coming from both sides.
The students alleged that there was a lack of basic amenities at the institute and claimed that the management did not take the issue seriously. They also raised questions about the availability of emergency medical facilities, like ambulances and oxygen.
Ranchi Sadar Deputy Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Besra said that the case is being investigated and action would be taken as per the law.