Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the unnatural death of PhD student Anamtira Roy (24), an institute spokesperson said on Sunday.

Roy, a life sciences researcher at the Haringhata campus in Nadia district, died at AIIMS Kalyani hospital on Friday morning, hours after falling ill on campus, police said. A preliminary hospital report indicated a suspected drug overdose.

The institute's spokesperson said the committee, set up on Friday, is gathering information from Roy's family, batchmates, and social media posts, and will cooperate fully with the police.

Friends alleged that hours before being hospitalised on Thursday night, Roy had a heated argument with research colleagues in the laboratory. His cousin Hrisikesh Roy claimed he was bullied and mentally pressured by two members of his research team, leading to his death.

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) called for a thorough investigation after meeting the family. An FIR filed by Roy's relatives names a guide and a batchmate as responsible for the death, citing his social media posts about mental harassment and bullying.

Roy had previously stated online that he faced suicidal thoughts in the past, was partially autistic, and had complained to the internal complaints committee without receiving a response.

The spokesperson said the allegations are being taken seriously and the committee's findings will guide follow-up actions. In April 2022, another IISER PhD student, Subhadip Roy, died by suicide, blaming his research guide. IISER said it maintains a 24x7 counselling service and a zero-tolerance policy against ragging.