Mahila Congress Slams Govt Over Student Deaths at BITS; Demands Judicial Probe into Drugs, Harassment and Neglect
Panaji: President of Goa Mahila Pradesh Congress, Dr. Pratiksha Khalap has demanded a thorough investigation by the state government into the string of student deaths at BITS Pilani Goa campus, Sancoale. She also urged the Goa bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa to take cognisance of this issue and constitute a judicial commission to inquire into the deaths.
She was addressing a press conference on Friday in the presence of Saee Volvoikar ā Vice President, Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress; Mamata Maben ā South Goa District President Mahila Congress and Lata Naik ā Cortalim Block President Mahila Congress.
Khalap said that the death of another student at BITS has raised several questions.
āThe question is why is this happening at this institute. While the first death was reported back in December last year, as per assembly replies, the government says that investigation is still under progress. What is the government doing about this? It is now no longer the issue of one institute. When so many suicides are happening at one institute, this shows a pattern of neglect and lack of accountability and responsibility. There is a lack of governance,ā she said.
āIn our lives, the first mentors are our parents. Mother is the first guru. They raise them with good values, educate them with a lot of trouble and spend a lot of money to put them through a good college. They expect that their students will exit the institute with a degree, however we are seeing that their bodies are exiting the institute BITS,ā she said.
Khalap said that the investigation into the deaths needs to cover three aspects.
āThe probe should first focus on the teacher harassment angle, whether students are facing extra stress maybe due to activities, assignments, exams, etc. Also, the angle of ragging or bullying needs to be probed. And most importantly, the drugs aspect, as there is a racket going on across the state. There is a suspicion that drugs are used by students in many hostels,ā she said.
She highlighted a recent incident on August 25, 2025 where 226 grams of ganja was seized from a delivery agent in the vicinity of the institute.
āStudents suspect that food delivery agents are supplying drugs to the students in the hostel. There is a suspicion. There is a need to thoroughly probe this angle. It is possible that drugs are rampantly available and are consuming alcohol as well,ā she said.
āDespite the CM constituting a panel to inquire into the deaths, we have lost trust in the government. Hence, we urge the judiciary to take cognisance of this matter. We urge the Goa bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa to appoint a judicial commission and order an investigation. We also urge the government to publish a report on the past deaths at the institute,ā she said.
Khalap also urged the Chief Minister, who also holds the Education portfolio, to initiate reforms in the education system.
āAppoint a commission on this. The government needs to focus on sports, self-development and spiritual development and training of students. There should be mandatory counsellors in all education institutions to deal with students. We need to focus on what kind of future generation we are building. We only give our children high intelligence, enrol them in courses, and give a good education, and our children are developing high IQ but are not developing emotionally intelligent. The future of our young generation is at stake,ā she said.
Khalap said that as per data of suicide rate in Goa, there were 312 deaths in 2021, 304 in 2022 and 329 in 2023. āThe number keeps rising every year. This is a very disturbing and alarming situation. I also urge the student and women wings of the BJP that instead of holding protests, they should raise important genuine issues that concern the society like suicides by youth due to lack of jobs, cash for jobs, crimes against women. We donāt see the BJP raising these issues,ā she said.
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