Odisha university suicide: 3 officials, 2 guards from KIIT arrested over handling of protesters, granted bail

The Odisha government has also formed a fact-finding to ascertain the circumstances leading to the suicide. The panel will also look into alleged highhandedness by college authorities, reasons for issuing notice to Nepali students to vacate the campus, and other aspects of the incident.

“Appropriate legal and administrative action shall follow based on the findings of the fact-finding committee,” said the state’s higher education minister Suryavanshi Suraj.

In a post on X, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu said they have “been following up with authorities of the Government of Odisha as also with the KIIT with regard to the tragic death and related developments.”

“The government of Odisha has taken cognisance of the matter and taken steps against the erring officials involved. The Police Commissionerate of Bhubaneshwar has informed that a criminal case has been registered against the accused student and he has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Odisha Police has also taken cognisance of the manhandling of students by KIT security personnel, arrested them and registered a criminal case. Odisha Police has assured an objective, impartial and just investigation in the cases. The Odisha government has placed KlIT under notice and constituted a fact-finding committee,” it wrote.

Earlier in the day, the university – under fire for its handling of the crisis – had acted against the officials and security staff.

In a video that has gone viral, two women staff members are purportedly heard telling protesters that the amount spent by the founder of the university for free education of 40,000 underprivileged students was more than the annual budget of Nepal. Several other videos have also resurfaced that purportedly show security personnel roughing up protesting students.

A 21-year-old engineering student who hails from Lucknow was earlier arrested in connection with the suicide. The victim’s cousin has alleged he was trying to blackmail her, and that her complaint to the university went unheard.