MUMBAI: Five students from IIT-Bombay started their hunger strike on Saturday to protest the recent fee hike in M-Tech and PhD courses, with a few hundred joining in support. The students were protesting near the school of management building but were asked to move to the gymkhana owing to an ongoing convocation function on the campus. At least four faculty members showed their solidarity with the protesting students by visiting them for some time, said the students.
A section of M-Tech and PhD students have been protesting the fee hike for over a fortnight. Fees for these courses have been hiked by 35-45% this year. After giving an ultimatum till August 5, the students started the relay hunger strike on Saturday. A student said that the institute’s security officials were restraining them by taking away the posters and banners.