• Source:JND
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Odisha Police on Tuesday arrested six individuals, including three directors of KIIT, Shivanand Mishra, Pratap Kumar and Sudhir Kumar Rath—along with two security personnel in the case related to the death of a Nepali B Tech student at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar. Advik Srivastava, a resident of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was also taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the case.

The state government has constituted a high-level fact-finding committee to probe the incident, including allegations of excessive force by university security. The committee, led by the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the home department, includes members from the women and child development and higher education departments.

The government has also warned KIIT University of potential legal action based on the findings. Reports suggest that private individuals, allegedly acting on behalf of the administration, used force against hostel inmates. An audio clip aired by electronic media revealed that local goons coerced students into deleting photos and videos related to the incident and protests.

Allegations Made By Deceased's Father

The postmortem of the student’s body was conducted at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Wednesday in the presence of the Deputy District Magistrate and the deceased’s family. The student’s father, Sunil Lamsal, claimed that his daughter was subjected to harassment and emotional blackmail, leading to her suicide. He asserted that the person arrested in the case was responsible for her death. The body is expected to be flown to Nepal on Thursday.

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Protests Erupt Demanding Action

Student organisations, including the Nav Nirman Chhatra Sangathan, staged protests in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, demanding justice. Protesters gathered outside KIIT’s Gate No. 4 on Tuesday, condemning the university’s handling of the incident.

Meanwhile, KIIT University announced disciplinary action against several officials. Two security personnel were terminated, while two senior hostel officials and an administrative officer from the International Relations Office were suspended pending an inquiry. The university issued a formal apology and assured that steps were being taken to improve student safety.

Nepal Embassy Officers Sent To Odisha

In response to the crisis, Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dispatched two embassy officers from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar to counsel Nepali students. He stated that arrangements had been made for students to either stay in their hostels or return home.

Tensions escalated when protesting Nepali students were allegedly forced out of their hostels and taken to Cuttack railway station, where they were instructed to board trains back home. Viral video clips purportedly showed security guards assaulting Nepali students and female faculty members mistreating them, prompting Nepalese authorities to demand justice from Indian officials.

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KIIT Founder Briefs Nepal Envoy On Actions Taken

KIIT Founder Achyuta Samanta spoke with Nepali Ambassador to India, Shankar P Sharma, to brief him on the steps taken by the university. These included the public apology issued by the Vice-Chancellor and the termination of staff members involved in the incident.

Investigation Ongoing

Bhubaneswar Commissioner of Police S Devdutta Singh assured the deceased student's family that those responsible would face legal consequences. Odishas Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj reiterated Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s commitment to taking appropriate action against anyone found guilty. Authorities continue their investigation to uncover the truth behind the tragic incident and the ensuing unrest at KIIT University.