In response to the recent death of a Nepali student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha’s Skill Development and Technical Education Minister has expressed deep concern over the incident.
The minister condemned the reported mistreatment of students and described KIIT’s actions as “arbitrary” and “unacceptable.”
Odisha Skill Development and Technical Education department minister expressed concern over the matter and says, “Such behavior towards students is highly condemnable and KIIT’s arbitrary actions are unacceptable. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The government is taking the issue seriously, and strict action will be taken against those responsible. Additionally, an inquiry will be conducted into allegations of land irregularities, as corruption will not be tolerated.”
A high-level committee has been established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and the subsequent handling of the situation by the university administration. The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the issue seriously and assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible.
In addition to the immediate investigation, the minister announced an inquiry into allegations of land irregularities associated with KIIT. This decision underscores the government’s stance that corruption, in any form, will not be tolerated.
The incident has garnered significant attention, with reports indicating that the student, a third-year B.Tech Computer Science major from Nepal, allegedly died by suicide following reported harassment. The situation escalated when a video surfaced showing KIIT staff making controversial remarks to Nepali students, leading to widespread protests and diplomatic interventions. In response, KIIT’s Vice-Chancellor issued a public apology, and two officials involved were removed from their positions.