{
  "id": 1376922,
  "title": "Arunachal student suicide in Kerala: Protesters blame ‘harsh’ credit score system",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/arunachal-student-suicide-in-kerala-protesters-blame-harsh-credit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T23:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/arunachal-student-suicide-in-kerala-protesters-blame-harsh-credit-score-system-10836291/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Arunachal student Michi Marpu commits suicide in Kerala.",
    "College accused of harsh credit score system.",
    "Minister orders investigation and ends year back policy."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The stricter credit score requirement at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering compared to other Kerala colleges likely heightened the student's distress, leading to a tragic outcome that sparked widespread protests.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "Arunachal student suicide in Kerala: Protesters blame ‘harsh’ credit score system",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/arunachal-student-suicide-in-kerala-protesters-blame-harsh-credit-1378452",
        "published": "2026-08-16T23:50:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}