Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is currently examining the report submitted by a high-level committee formed to probe the death of a Nepalese student at KIIT University earlier this year, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed the Assembly on Friday.
The 20-year-old student from Nepal was found dead in her hostel room on February 16, sparking widespread concern and protests among Nepali students both on campus and abroad. In response, the government had set up a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
Responding to a written question from Congress MLA Dasarathi Gomango, Suraj said the inquiry committee has completed its work and handed over its findings to the state government. “The report is under examination,” he said.
Suraj further clarified that the state government has not received any communication from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the case, even though the Commission had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and conducted its own independent probe.
Addressing Gomango’s separate query on allegations that KIIT University had illegally encroached upon a public road, the Minister said the matter does not fall directly under the Higher Education Department’s jurisdiction. He explained that land allotted to KIIT and other institutions has been provided on lease by the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) in coordination with the General Administration and Revenue Departments.
Citing information from the General Administration and Public Grievances (GA&PG) Department, Suraj said a joint field-level inquiry will be undertaken to verify the encroachment allegations. Officers from Idco, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), and the local tehsil will participate in the inspection.
