IIT Bombay protest hits day 45 as students say director's office corridor is barricaded
By TUF News Desk · Published 1 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Students protesting at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay say security staff have barricaded the corridor leading to the director’s office and now ask them to produce an appointment or a pass before they can walk through. The protest has passed 45 days, and the students say the barricades went up on both sides of the corridor that leads to the offices of the director and the Dean of Student Affairs.
Other students and visitors are allowed through the same corridor, the protesters said. They added that repeated appeals to the administration have brought no assurance about when their belongings will be returned. According to the students, the director does not meet them, and the Chief Security Officer has told them he does not have permission from higher authorities to act.
Laptops and keys taken on October 18
The belongings row goes back to October 18, when Mumbai Police detained protesters and dismantled the first Justice Corner site near the institute’s main gate. Students say their possessions were taken at that time, including laptops, books, room keys, electronic devices and even a bookshelf. Seven to eight laptops are still with institute security, one student said.
The loss has followed the protesters into their coursework. End-semester examinations are expected to begin in the second week of November, and students said the absence of their laptops, books and notes is disrupting their preparation. Some protesters also said they cannot get into their hostel rooms because their keys are among the seized items.
An attempt to settle the belongings question failed a week earlier. A meeting on October 24 to hand the items back ended without a deal after the two sides disagreed over how the handover should happen, with students asking for representatives to witness it and the institute insisting on its standard one-at-a-time process.
How the protest reached this point
The protest began after second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18. Students set up the Justice Corner site outside the main gate and demanded a transparent account of what happened. On October 18, police cleared that site and detained Wakode’s parents, their lawyer and about 16 to 20 students during a gathering to mark a month since his death.
After the clearance, the protesters moved inside the main building, near the director’s office. About 20 faculty members then wrote to the director questioning whether any institute official had authorised police to enter the campus, and asking why students’ belongings had not been returned. The institute’s position at the time, reported by The Times of India, was that the items would be returned under its lost-and-found process.
The institute had not responded to queries when the November 1 report went to press, and students say they are still waiting for their laptops, books and keys with examinations approaching. Students and others can follow updates on the official IIT Bombay website.
Frequently asked questions
How long has the IIT Bombay protest been going on?
More than 45 days, according to a November 1 report. The protest began after second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18.
What are the protesting students alleging now?
They say security staff have barricaded the corridor leading to the director’s office and ask them for an appointment or pass, while other students and visitors are allowed through.
Which belongings do students say are still unreturned?
Laptops, books, room keys, electronic devices and a bookshelf taken when the first protest site was dismantled on October 18. Students say seven to eight laptops are still with institute security.
What has IIT Bombay said about the allegations?
The institute had not responded to queries when the November 1 report went to press. Earlier, it had said belongings would be returned under its lost-and-found process.
Frequently asked questions
How long has the IIT Bombay protest been going on?
More than 45 days, according to a November 1 report. The protest began after second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on September 18.
What are the protesting students alleging now?
They say security staff have barricaded the corridor leading to the director's office and ask them for an appointment or pass, while other students and visitors are allowed through.
Which belongings do students say are still unreturned?
Laptops, books, room keys, electronic devices and a bookshelf taken when the first protest site was dismantled on October 18. Students say seven to eight laptops are still with institute security.
What has IIT Bombay said about the allegations?
The institute had not responded to queries when the November 1 report went to press. Earlier, it had said belongings would be returned under its lost-and-found process.
Sources: Mumbai Mirror, Hindustan Times, The Times of India