Guwahati, 27 July (HS): A third-year BTech student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati was found dead inside the institute's academic complex, prompting police to launch an investigation into a suspected case of suicide, police informed on Monday.

According to preliminary findings, the student is believed to have fallen from the fifth floor of the academic building. The deceased has been identified as Ritesh Raj Singh, a third-year Computer Science and Engineering student and a resident of the Brahmaputra Hostel.

Institute sources said Singh was an academically outstanding student who had recently secured an internship with global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs.

Expressing grief over the tragedy, IIT Guwahati Director Prof. Devendra Jalihal said the institute had suffered a profound loss. In a message to the campus community, he extended condolences to the bereaved family and stated that the institute was providing all possible support during this difficult time.

Kamrup Police have registered a case and begun an inquiry. Officials said the exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem examination and completion of the investigation, with all possible angles being examined.

If the incident is confirmed to be a suicide, it would be the first suspected student suicide reported at IIT Guwahati in 2026. The institute had witnessed four student suicides in 2024, raising concerns over student mental health, academic pressure, and the need for stronger support system7s on campus.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash