KIIT University girl student’s death case rocks Odisha Assembly, founder Achyuta Samanta’s arrest demanded

Concerns were fervently expressed in the Odisha Assembly during the zero hour on Tuesday, as opposition parties raised alarm over the state’s law and order situation following a Nepali student’s death, allegedly by suicide, at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar.

The Opposition deputy chief whip, Pratap Deb, voiced strong criticism, asserting that events like the Nepali student’s tragic death at KIIT University are drawing negative attention to Odisha globally. 

Furthermore, Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that Odisha earned a bad reputation due to the KIIT incident. He emphasised the close ties with Nepal, criticising the treatment of Nepali students by university authorities and demanding a judicial inquiry into the matter. Bahinipati warned of a sit-in protest should the inquiry not proceed.

“Odisha has been ashamed in the whole country because of KIIT. Odisha has an old relationship with Nepal for Lord Jagannath. The way the Nepali students were beaten is condemnable. There should be a judicial inquiry into the incident. Otherwise, I will start a sit-in protest,” said Bahinipati.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized upon the opposition’s critiques, reminding them that the owner of KIIT had previously been a Member of Parliament (MP) from BJD. 

Must Read: Bhubaneswar KIIT University has done wrong with Nepali students, rues father of deceased girl

BJP legislator Tankadhar Tripathy noted incidents such as Pari, Mamita Meher and Mahanga double murder cases, questioning the previous administration’s swift responses. He also questioned the lack of action from the then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“The incident that occurred at KIIT is very unfortunate. The owner of the KIIT was from which party? Though BJD MLAs were involved in Pari, Mamata Meher and Mahanga double murder cases, the then Chief Minister had not taken any actions. The law and order situation that BJD is talking about is ridiculous,” said Tripathy.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Babu Singh has demanded the arrest of KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta.

“Odisha has been ashamed because of the incident at KIIT. It is a condemnable act to misbehave the students of foreign countries. It must have been done with directions from KIIT authorities. KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta must be arrested over the incident,” said Singh.

Meanwhile, KIIT University has issued an apology. "We are extremely appalled by the untoward incident that took place in our campus on the evening of 16 February 2025. We are also regretful of the way some of us behaved with the agitating students. We love our students and had never done any disservice to them. The comments made by two of our officers are extremely irresponsible."

It further read, "Although the comments are made on their personal capacity on the spur of the moment, we do not support their action. We have removed them from service. They too have apologized for their behavior. We too apologize for all that has happened and hereby tender our love and affection to all the students and people of Nepal. We love them as much as we love the people of India and the people of the world. Additionally, we are again appealing our Nepali students to join the regular academics with immediate effect."