KIIT Suicide Case Escalates as Odisha Police Arrests Five Officials and Security Guards
The controversy surrounding the tragic suicide of a 20-year-old Nepali student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University has intensified, with Odisha police arresting five individuals, including three university officials and two security guards. The arrests follow allegations of misconduct and manhandling of Nepali students who were protesting the incident.
The arrested individuals have been identified as security guards Ramakaant Nayak and Jogendra Behera, along with university officials Sibananda Mishra, Pratap Kumar Champaty, and Sudhir Kumar Rath. They face charges under sections 115(2) (causing hurt), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 296 (obscene act), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Government Forms Fact-Finding Committee
In response to the growing unrest, the Odisha government has constituted a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the student’s suicide. The panel will also examine allegations of misconduct by university authorities, including the reported decision to ask Nepali students to vacate the campus.
Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj stated that legal and administrative action will be taken based on the committee’s findings.
India’s Embassy in Nepal Weighs In
The case has also drawn attention from the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, which issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that it is monitoring the situation closely in coordination with both the Odisha government and KIIT authorities.
“The Odisha government has taken cognizance of the matter and initiated action against the individuals involved,” the statement read. It further noted that the Odisha Police has registered a criminal case, arrested the accused student, and assured a fair and impartial investigation.
KIIT Under Fire as Video Sparks Outrage
The university has faced mounting criticism over its handling of the crisis, particularly after the emergence of viral videos showing security personnel allegedly roughing up protesting students. Another video, widely circulated on social media, captured two women staff members making controversial remarks, suggesting that the university’s expenditure on underprivileged students exceeded Nepal’s annual budget.
Amid the backlash, KIIT has taken disciplinary action against the officials and security staff involved, though further details on these measures remain unclear.
As tensions continue to rise, students, activists, and international observers are calling for a transparent and swift resolution to the case. With the Odisha government now actively involved, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the deceased student and addressing concerns over the treatment of Nepali students on campus.
