A 25-year-old PhD scholar, Anamitra Roy, at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, tragically died on Friday morning after allegedly attempting suicide on the college premises the previous evening. Roy's death has sparked outrage and triggered investigations into allegations of ragging and institutional apathy.
Prior to his death, Roy, a resident of Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas, posted a message on social media, detailing his struggles with depression and revealing that he had recently been diagnosed with autism. In the post, he alleged that he had been subjected to repeated abuse by a fellow PhD student, Sourabh Biswas, and that his complaints to his supervisor, Anindita Bhadra, had been ignored. He also claimed that the IISER Kolkata anti-ragging cell failed to respond to his complaints.
According to police sources, Roy was found unconscious in a laboratory at IISER on Thursday evening, having apparently consumed a poisonous substance or an overdose of his neurological medicines. He was rushed to AIIMS Kalyani, but succumbed on Friday morning. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
In his social media post, Roy wrote, "I was never made for this world… But I can't do this anymore. I give up. May I find the peace in death that I never found in life". He detailed a specific incident on April 12, 2025, when Biswas allegedly shouted at him for an extended period in the lab. Roy stated that he lodged complaints with the institute's anti-ragging cell via email and the official portal, but received no response. He also expressed feeling unsupported by his supervisor, who he said "only found fault in my behaviour".
Roy's post further revealed that he had struggled with mental health issues and bullying since childhood, and had considered suicide as early as sixth grade. He described facing "recurrent physical, mental abuse" from his parents since childhood. He also recounted being diagnosed with major depression during his second year of college. He felt that his supervisor only saw fault in his behavior. He also mentioned that he only wanted an apology from Sourabh Biswas, but that was rejected. He alleged that Sourabh Biswas's thesis contained "huge scientific misconduct" that was ignored by his supervisor.
IISER Kolkata has issued a statement expressing "deep sadness and grief" over Roy's death. The institute has announced that it will conduct both internal and external inquiries into the allegations of ragging and the handling of Roy's complaints. An institute official stated that a probe committee is being constituted.
This is not the first time IISER Kolkata has faced allegations of ragging and student suicide. In April 2022, Subhadip Roy, a final-year scholar from the integrated PhD programme, was found dead inside the physics laboratory, with his family alleging ragging. These incidents raise serious questions about the culture and support systems within the institution.
Following Anamitra Roy's death, many are calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations of ragging and institutional apathy. Friends and colleagues are mourning the loss of a "beloved friend, a dedicated mentor and above all A HUMAN FUCKING BEING". The incident has sparked a wider discussion about the mental health of students in higher education and the responsibility of institutions to provide adequate support and protection.
