In a major disciplinary move, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar has suspended five Bangladeshi students following a violent clash inside a campus hostel that left several students seriously injured. The institute has also confirmed that the students, who were studying in India under scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), will be deported to Bangladesh. The incident took place on the night of September 8, when a group of third-year students allegedly attacked their senior compatriots inside one of the hostels. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers were carrying rods, knives and screwdrivers, and appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. The assault, which lasted for nearly half an hour, left several students with critical injuries. At least two victims remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Silchar Medical College and Hospital with severe head wounds, doctors confirmed. One of the witnesses recounted the sequence of events: “They called the seniors into a room on the pretext of a discussion, suddenly switched off the lights, and launched a fresh assault with weapons. The entire hostel was in chaos.”
Following the incident, NIT authorities conducted an inquiry and searched the hostel rooms of the accused. The Dean of Students’ Welfare, Professor S. S. Dhar, said that narcotics were also recovered during the search. “Primarily, the action was taken for the violence on campus, but the suspected use of narcotics was an additional concern,” he added. NIT Silchar Director Professor Dilip Kumar Baidya stated that the institute had sufficient evidence to establish the involvement of the five students in the violence. “They have been suspended for two semesters and will not be allowed to stay in hostels. They will be sent back to Bangladesh,” he said. The disciplinary measures include a one-year suspension from classes, immediate expulsion from hostels, and eventual deportation in consultation with ICCR and government authorities. A senior ICCR officer from Guwahati visited the campus last weekend to review the matter. The officer expressed satisfaction with the institute’s investigation and endorsed the disciplinary action.
Campus life at NIT Silchar has been tense since the incident, with both Indian and international students expressing concern over safety. The administration has assured the student community that strict measures are being put in place to prevent any repeat of such violence. The decision to deport the students has also sparked discussions in academic circles about the need for closer monitoring of foreign scholarship holders. While ICCR scholarships aim to strengthen educational and cultural ties, officials say the sanctity of academic spaces cannot be compromised. For now, the institute maintains that restoring peace and ensuring student safety remains its top priority. “We are committed to maintaining discipline on campus, and no act of violence will be tolerated,” the director said.
