The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar said that it had disciplined security personnel and administrators following the murder of a Nepali engineering student on campus. Additionally, the institute expressed regret for any discomfort that the comments made following the incident may have caused.
The college said that a senior administrative officer from the International Relations Office (IRO) and two senior hostel administrators had been placed on leave while a comprehensive investigation is conducted. A notice was issued by the college on X, “KIIT authorities and the entire staff deeply regret the incident that occurred on 16th February. Two security staffs were terminated immediately. Two senior hostel officials and one senior administrative officer of International Relations Office (IRO), were suspended pending a thorough enquiry.”
An apology letter was also posted on the college’s X account, where the Vice-Chancellor of KIIT-DU stated, “KIIT has always been a welcoming home to students from around the world, promoting a culture of inclusivity, respect, and care. We deeply regret the recent incident and reaffirm our commitment to the safety, dignity, and well-being of all our students, including our cherished Nepali students.”
“A dedicated control room is operational 24 x 7 at KIIT campus 6 to facilitate the return of Nepali students to the KIIT campus…For our staff, we recognise that certain comments were in the heat of the moment and we apologise for any distress caused. We prioritise the safety and well-being of our students above all,” the notice reads.
On the evening of February 16, the body of the third-year engineering student was discovered. Nepali classmates demonstrated after her passing, claiming that a classmate had tormented her and calling for justice. When the student was discovered hanging in the ladies’ dorm on February 17, the institution called her death “unfortunate” and stated that it had taken “all-out efforts to restore normalcy in the campus and hostels to resume academic activities.”
“Nepali students who have left or intend to leave the campus should return and continue their classes,” the college added, adding that the police had detained the accused.