Pune: Around 100 students of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune staged a protest on Thursday, voicing grievances against the suspension and hostel expulsion of the student body’s general secretary, alleged curbs on student agency, increasing restrictions on common spaces, and a lack of adequate mental health support. The protest follows the death of a female student on the campus on the night of Aug 16.The students began their demonstration with a march to the main gate on the Baner side, followed by a sit-in protest in the main building. “Since no authority has come to speak with us or understand our grievances, we will continue this overnight,” said one student.According to the protesters, there are approximately 2,000 students on campus but only two regular counsellors, leading to a month-long waiting period for appointments. Police officials told TOI that a female student from Jamshedpur died by suicide on Aug 16 after jumping from a hostel building, citing personal reasons. Police found no foul play. A statement issued by IISER on Wednesday noted that the student was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.Tensions at IISER have been simmering since April, when a female student was allegedly strip-searched by housekeeping staff following allegations of cheating. “Despite our protests and administrative assurances, students were excluded from the fact-finding committee. It was a case of teachers investigating teachers, which is fundamentally unfair. Despite repeated emails, our concerns remain unaddressed,” a student said.The next blow to student confidence came with the suspension of the student council’s general secretary. Students claim his “fault” was taking the initiative to inform the student body via email about the alleged strip search and shared concerns. He has been suspended for the current semester (until Dec) and barred from the hostel, though he may attend academic activities.“How can an institute punish a student for raising valid concerns for which he was elected? He has been made an example so that, in the future, nobody dares to question the administration,” a student representative said. Protesters added that of the four elected members of the student body, only two remain active, and they feel they are being used merely as “one-way messengers” by the administration.However, IISER issued a statement saying disciplinary action was taken against the general secretary following a thorough investigation by a committee based on received complaints. The institute added that the student’s appeal resulted in a reduction of the initial penalty.The protesters also highlighted the impact of new hostel rules. For students with rigorous academic schedules involving lab work and research, social clubs and common spaces are vital for “letting off steam.” On Aug 4, the administration unilaterally changed hostel rules to restrict the intermingling of genders inside PhD hostels.“Common spaces in PhD hostels are fundamental to student life. They are used for group study, projects, club activities, and even dance practice. These spaces allow students from diverse backgrounds to develop a sense of community,” a student said.In response, IISER Pune stated that stricter implementation of hostel rules was necessary to prevent unauthorised entry after female residents in Hostel 3 raised safety concerns. The institute claimed that common areas on the ground floor remain accessible and that some spaces were converted into residential rooms to accommodate the Aug 2026 intake. The administration said it is currently renovating the dining complex to create alternative co-working and social spaces.Students dismissed these claims as “token statements,” arguing the dining complex was already open and is inadequate for club meetings or rehearsals. “Why a science institute wants to enforce gender segregation among adults is beyond us,” they added.The tipping point for the current unrest was the administration’s handling of the Aug 16 tragedy. “The condolence meeting felt callous to many of us. Classes resumed the next day with a compulsory attendance policy. Grieving students were effectively forced to attend lectures and quizzes,” a student said.“We do not have an on-campus psychiatrist. We used to have a visiting psychiatrist, but that service is no longer available. Our demands are clear: revoke the suspension of the general secretary of the student council, overhaul mental health support, roll back gender-based segregation, restore common spaces, and protect students’ right to peaceful protest by ensuring no disciplinary action is taken against them,” the student said.The institute’s statement maintained that they currently have two full-time counsellors, two additional counsellors in the institute’s Mental Wellbeing Centre, and are in the process of hiring more full-time staff.
