Bhubaneswar: The State government today directed the founder of KIIT and KISS Achyuta Samanta appear before a high-level committee for investigation into the Nepali student’s suicide and subsequent action against protesting students by the institution.
In a letter to the KIIT founder, the Higher Education Department asked Samanta to appear and adduce evidence before the High-Level Committee.
The letter stated that a high-level committee has decided to conduct an enquiry into the alleged suicide of a student and subsequent actions taken by the University.
“Hence, you are requested to appear before the High-Level Committee on 2 1.02.2025 at 6.30 PM at Mini Conference Hall, New Annexe Building, State Guest House, Bhubaneswar and to adduce evidence with adequate documentary evidence before the Committee,” the letter read.
Odisha Skill Development and Technical Education Minister, Sampad Chandra Swain, vowed to take stringent action against those responsible for the recent incident at KIIT University. The incident involved the death of a Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, which sparked protests and allegations of harassment and institutional negligence.
The minister condemned the behaviour towards the students as “very shameful” and emphasized that the university authorities should have been more empathetic towards the protesting students.
Swain also highlighted that there is a solution to every problem and that the arbitrary actions of KIIT authorities were unacceptable.
