Arunachal student suicide in Kerala: Protesters blame ‘harsh’ credit score system

A student from Arunachal Pradesh committed suicide in Kothamangalam, Kerala, and protests erupted, accusing the college of a "harsh" credit score system. The victim, 20-year-old Michi Marpu, was a fifth semester B Tech student at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering. The college requires a higher credit score (22) compared to other colleges in Kerala (18).

Marpu had failed four subjects in the previous semester and was accused of not meeting the college's credit score ceiling, leading him to fear being forced to repeat the entire year. College principal Dr Bose Mathew acknowledged the student's poor academic performance but defended the college's credit score system. Higher Education Minister Roji M John ordered the college to discontinue the "year back" system and conduct an investigation into the incident. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are probing the matter.