Kerala government sends deceased student home to Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar: The Kerala government is covering all costs to send a 20-year-old engineering student home to Arunachal Pradesh after he died by suicide. Michi Marpu, who studied BTech at MA College of Engineering, died at his shared rental home in Kothamangalam on Saturday. Police found him with a rope around his neck. They are currently probing the death.

Higher Education Minister Roji M John confirmed the state handled the embalming and travel arrangements. His body left Kochi on an IndiGo flight at 6 pm Monday, heading for Delhi. From there, it departs for Donyi Polo Airport in Itanagar at 3.30 pm on August 18. Officials asked the Arunachal Pradesh administration to provide an ambulance with a freezer to bring the body to his family in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district.

Marpu likely feared losing a school year due to low credits. Students claim the college enforced a strict year-back system despite a recent suspension order from the Kerala Technological University. The system, started in 2024, mandates that fifth-semester students who miss credit targets fall back one year. Though the KTU syndicate suspended the rule, students allege the college kept using it. Minister John said he spoke with college authorities, noting, "an agreement had been reached to proceed in accordance with the regulations of Kerala Technological University."