Published Aug 16, 2026 | 4:01 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 16, 2026 | 4:13 PM
MACE
Synopsis: The alleged suicide of a student from Arunachal Pradesh has triggered protests at the Mar Athanasius College of Engineering, with students blaming the college’s credit requirement for the tragic death.
Mar Athanasius College of Engineering (MACE) in Ernakulam district’s Kothamangalam has erupted in protests after the tragic death of an engineering student from Arunachal Pradesh.
Michi Marpu, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, was found hanging at his PG accommodation near the college on Sunday, August 16. His body was reportedly discovered by his roommate when he returned to the room after attending a party.
Marpu’s death triggered protests, with students alleging that the “rigid” attendance credit system at the college might have pushed him towards the brink, forcing him to end his life.
Even as protests intensified and questions were raised by Higher Education Minister Roji M John, students allege that the college had not even publicly expressed grief over the death of the student.
At the centre of the anger is MACE’s credit requirement.
While most of the engineering colleges in Kerala under APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) generally follow the university-prescribed requirement of 18 credits, MACE requires 22 credits to avoid a year back, students said.
That raises a crucial question: If KTU has already laid down the academic norms, why is MACE imposing a higher credit requirement of its own? And now, the placards outside MACE are making the demand clear- “reset MACE.”
Michi Marpu
Thousands of engineering aspirants across India secure admission to colleges through JEE scores. Michi Marpu was among those who made it to MACE, Kothamangalam. The college also has students from other northeastern states and Ladakh.
Speaking to South First, one of Marpu’s classmates said he had not been attending classes for nearly two months after his name was missing from the attendance list of the new semester.
”He knew that his name was missing from the attendance list for the fourth semester, and he stopped attending classes. He had also not returned home.” the classmate said.
The student also alleged that Marpu’s suicide note was written in a combination of his native languages, Hindi and English. According to him, the police has not yet decoded the contents or shared the details with the students. He claimed that the college too had not made an effort to understand the note.
”We are worried that the contents of the note could be manipulated.” he said.
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Students protesting on the MACE campus.
Adhil Muhammed, KSU chief at MACE, told South First that 20 students had been affected by the year-back rule, of whom 15 had secured more than 18 credits — the minimum required under KTU norms, according to the students.
”The college has fixed 22 credits to raise its academic standards. This is not the norm followed by many other engineering colleges. If the university has prescribed an academic requirement, why should one college impose a different standard?” Muhammed asked.
He said students had repeatedly raised the issue and met Minister Roji M John last week to seek intervention. According to him, the minister contacted the management, but the college was not willing to reconsider the requirement.
”All student unions are united on this issue.” he said.
A student of Ilahia College of Engineering and Technology (ICET), Muvattupuzha, told South First that most colleges, including hers follow the 18-credit requirement.
”When the university informed us about the year-back provision, students became worried. To avoid a year back in the fourth semester, we were required to secure the prescribed credits. In the seventh semester, we have to complete at least 36 credits to avoid a year back. Most colleges follow the university guidelines. We do not understand why MACE has a different requirement.” she said.
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MACE authorities, however, maintained that the institution has the power to prescribe its own academic requirements. As an autonomous institution, the college said it can set academic standards independently.
The authorities said the decision to increase the requirement to 22 credits was taken by the Academic Council and was aimed at aligning academic standards with industry requirements. The college maintained that it continues to stand by the 22-credit requirement.
Higher Education Minister Roji M John, meanwhile, told South First that the year-back provision was introduced through a state government decision in 2024, during the previous LDF government.
Higher Education Minister, Roji M John
”Under that decision, students who did not have the required credits by the fifth semester would face a year back. However, the provision came into effect only this year.” he said.
After the UDF government assumed office, the minister said, the government convened a council meeting and reconstituted the Board of Studies. The first KTU Syndicate meeting subsequently decided to prevent students from being subjected to a year back under the provision this year.
”Colleges affiliated to KTU have to follow this decision. But MACE is an autonomous institution and its Academic Council has separate powers.” the minister said.
The minister confirmed that students had approached him the previous week and that he subsequently informed the college management about the University’s decision. However, the college was not prepared to withdraw its requirement.
Police have registered a case in connection with Marpu’s death and will conduct an inquest, the minister said. He also said that a university-level inquiry would be conducted into the matter.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
