Bhubaneswar: KIIT University Founder Achyuta Samanta and eight other officials of the Institute today appeared before a high-level Fact-Finding Committee constituted by the State Government in connection with the death of a Nepali girl student and the subsequent unrest at the university.
Along with Dr.Samanta, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Dean, Registrar, Joint Director (Hostel) and Associate Professor also appeared before the State Committee to provide their statements regarding the student’s death and the unrest that followed.
The State Committee has been investigating the reason behind the direction issued to Nepali students to vacate the campus following the incident on February 17.
The Panel led by ACS Home, Satyabrata Sahu also sought clarification from KIIT authorities on several issues, including why the Nepali students were dropped off at Bhubaneswar and Cuttack railway stations, the reported assault on Nepali students by KIIT security guards, and why the International Relations Officer failed to act on repeated complaints made by the deceased student against a third-year B. Tech student for harassment.
The Police have already arrested ten KIIT staff members and third-year B Tech student Advik Srivastav in connection with the incident.
Commissioner of Police S. Devdutt Singh stated that prima facie evidence suggests that harassment by the accused student allegedly led to the Nepali student’s suicide.
Advik has been taken into judicial custody by a local court in connection with the death of Prakrit Lamsal.
Official sources confirmed that the State Government will take necessary legal and administrative action against KIIT University authorities based on the report submitted by the Fact Finding Committee.
Meanwhile, the issue rocked the State Assembly today as members cutting across party lines condemned the mistreatment of Nepalese students following the death of a girl on KIIT campus.
Senior Congress member Taraprasad Bahinipati demanded a judicial inquiry and the immediate arrest of Samanta, whom he accused of tarnishing the image of Odisha and India.
“Has anyone heard of an institution declaring sine die against a particular community of students? This happened at KIIT. The women officers who made insulting statements against Nepal should also be arrested,” he said.
Senior BJD member Ganeswar Behera blamed the KIIT management for the entire incident, citing human rights violations in the private institute. He argued that the tragedy had strained India’s relationship with Nepal.
Senior BJD Lawmaker Kalikesh Singh Deo insisted that Chief Minister, who also heads the Department of Home, should address the debate, as the incident was primarily a law-and-order issue.
He criticised the state government for the police’s failure to intervene promptly to stop the attacks on Nepalese students, despite the Infocity Police Station being located near KIIT.
BJP Lawmaker Babu Singh demanded arrest of Dr.Samanta, accusing him of misleading society under the guise of education, tribal welfare, and devotion to Lord Jagannath.
However, the opposition members walked out when Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj did not respond to their demand for a judicial inquiry.
The Minister assured the House that action would be taken against those responsible, in accordance with the law and the findings of the investigation.
He said while police were investigating the criminal aspects of the incident, a high-level committee of the state government was probing lapses and other concerns, such as why only Nepalese students were served eviction notices, why they were attacked, and why they were dropped at Cuttack railway station without any arrangements for their safety.
He described the mistreatment of Nepalese students as “barbaric” and assured the House that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for both the suicide of the girl and the harassment of students from that country.
He also denied claims that the lone accused in the girl’s suicide case had ties to the ruling BJP. Police have arrested a 21-year-old KIIT engineering student from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on charges of abetment to suicide.