IIT Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed’s body exhumed for second post-mortem in Assam

In a significant development, the body of Faizan Ahmed, a student of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, was exhumed from a burial ground in Assam as per the directive of the Calcutta High Court. The purpose behind the exhumation was to conduct a second post-mortem examination to determine the cause of his untimely demise.

A team of forensic experts from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital carried out the exhumation process at the Amolapatty burial ground in Dibrugarh. They were accompanied by a four-member police team from the Kharagpur police station, as well as Ahmed's family members, Justice Gautam Priya Mahanta, and local police officers. Following the completion of the exhumation, Ahmed's body was temporarily kept at a mortuary before being transported to Kolkata on the following day.

The Calcutta High Court had issued the order for the exhumation and subsequent post-mortem examination of Faizan Ahmed's body on April 25. The court deemed it necessary to uncover the truth surrounding his death, which occurred six months prior when his body was buried in his home state of Assam.

Ahmed's father had approached the High Court, seeking the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate his son's demise.

The incident took place on October 14, 2022, when Ahmed's lifeless body was discovered in his hostel room at IIT Kharagpur in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. Justice Rajasekhar Mantha, in his order, emphasized the importance of conducting a second post-mortem examination to establish the truth behind Ahmed's death. He specified that the examination should be conducted at the State Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata subsequent to the exhumation.

Justice Mantha noted that Ahmed's parents had submitted an affidavit agreeing to the exhumation and the subsequent post-mortem examination. He instructed the investigating officers to coordinate with the Assam Police for the exhumation process and further stated that the body would be transported to Kolkata by the West Bengal Police.

Furthermore, Justice Mantha designated Dr. Ajoy Kumar Gupta to perform the post-mortem examination in the presence of the doctors who conducted the initial autopsy. Dr. Gupta, an appointed forensic expert by the High Court, was tasked with providing an opinion on the probable cause of Faizan Ahmed's tragic demise. The second post-mortem examination aimed to shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death and bring clarity to this unfortunate incident.