Eight IIT Bombay Students on Hunger Strike Over Sahil Wakode Death
Eight Indian Institute of Technology Bombay students have launched a hunger strike in Mumbai in solidarity with the parents of Sahil Wakode, demanding justice following the 20-year-old student's death by suicide on campus. The student demonstration entered its second day on Saturday, October 3, 2026, aligning with an ongoing protest led by the deceased student's family at Azad Maidan.
Saturday marked the 16th day following the death of the 20-year-old at the IIT Bombay campus. The demise has sparked ongoing controversy, accompanied by opposing claims regarding caste-based discrimination and cheating.
Sahil's parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, had already been staging a hunger strike at Azad Maidan to seek justice for their son. The group of eight students began their own hunger strike on October 2 to back the couple's demands.
As the demonstration continued into Saturday, participating students began facing health difficulties. According to student reports, one of the eight fasting students fell ill after experiencing severe fatigue and dizziness. Despite the symptoms, the student chose to continue participating in the hunger strike until the evening.
The other protesters were assessing whether the affected student required emergency healthcare support. In response to the worsening conditions, the protesting group reached out to the institute's administration to request assistance.
Physical exhaustion has begun affecting multiple demonstrators involved in the action. A protester reported that additional participants were struggling with the fast, stating, "We have two other students who experienced fatigue."
