Killed for a remote: North East students to hold silent protests today

Guwahati/Bangalore: The students from the North East are planning to hold silent protests across the country on Sunday to demand justice for Richard Loitam, a student of an architectural institute in Bangalore, who died after a bitter fight with his friends over a TV remote while an IPL match was on.

Loitam reportedly died of a cerebral haemorrhage in his sleep. The haemorrhage was allegedly so massive that his pillow was completely soaked in blood.

Loitam was reportedly punched in the head by a fellow hostel mate during the fight.

Richard Loitam died of a cerebral haemorrhage after a brawl that started with a fight over a remote control.

One of Loitam's friends, Syed Raza said, "He had a fight and got a punch on his face, there was a cut on his head. He went to sleep and never woke up."

Loitam's roommates reportedly didn't notice a thing in the night and the authorities also weren't alerted until the next afternoon.

Loitam's family has now charged the institute of negligence. His mother, RK Vidyabali Devi, a doctor herself, has some tough questions for the hostel authorities.

"My son who was badly injured which is proved by the photograph; it is not possible to climb the double-decker hostel bed on his own. And his room-mates, he was so badly injured, he must have cried out for help. Where were they?" Devi said.

"The warden in his FIR said that Loitam and some of his hostel mates had a quarrel at 8 pm. At 10:30 pm, Loitam went back to his room. From 8 pm to 10:30 pm, what were the college authority doing? Why haven't they taken him to hospital immediately?" Devi asked.

Meanwhile, more forensic reports are awaited.

The institute, however, has denied any wrong doing.

Dean, Acharya Institute of Architecture, Vasanth said, "There was a brawl, we have no reason to cover this up. It is a case of one of our students who has suffered; we too want justice to be delivered."

But for Loitam's family the loss is irreparable. "My son is dead," said Devi.

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