An intensified investigation regarding the alleged suicide of the female student in the hostel and the subsequent action of expelling other Nepali students is underway. Now, a high-level committee of the Odisha government has summoned Achyuta Samanta, the founder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), to appear before it on Friday.
In a letter to Samanta, the Higher Education Department said, ‘You are also requested to appear before the high-level committee at the State Guest House on February 21 at 6:30 pm. Submit sufficient documents as evidence before the committee as per the conditions in the office order.’
In fact, a three-member committee has been formed, the head of which is Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department. It has been given the responsibility to probe the circumstances under which the student committed suicide and raised issues or arbitrary actions by the institute authorities on issuing notices to that particular group of students only and closing the institute for them indefinitely among other things.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the committee paid a visit to KIIT. There, it talked to some Nepali students who were allegedly harassed by the institute staff during protests within the campus. Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj stated, ‘The high-level committee has the right to call and investigate the matter. The committee is working based on law.’
The minister also affirmed that the state government would protect the students’ interests. He added, ‘The state government has also discussed the matter with officials from the Nepal Embassy and informed the concerned students about the incident.’
What is the issue?
The trouble at KIIT began after the alleged suicide of a 20-year-old Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, on Sunday afternoon. Following this, Nepali students protested against the incident seeking justice. Allegedly annoyed with the protest, the KIIT management issued suspension notices to nearly 1,000 Nepali students and ordered them to vacate the campus on Monday.
Accused in custody for inciting student suicide
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner S. Dev Dutta Singh stated that police have obtained a 3-day custody of a 21-year-old engineering student, who was arrested for allegedly instigating the woman to commit suicide. The student was arrested at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here on Sunday evening while he was trying to flee the city, just a few hours after the death of the Nepali student. He is also alleged to have blackmailed and assaulted this student.
Five more arrested
Odisha Police arrested five more employees of KIIT on Thursday on charges of attacking the Nepali students, who were leaving the hostel following the order from the institution. Hence, the number of people arrested concerning the KIIT controversy has gone up to eleven, including one engineering student.
