‘Deceased Nepali girl student had lodged sexual harassment complaint with KIIT University 11 months before death’

The controversy surrounding the alleged misconduct at KIIT University took center stage in the Odisha Assembly on Friday, with Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj coming up with some shocking revelations about the Nepali girl student death at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) which has kicked off a major controversy as well as brought shame for the country over the ill-treatment meted out to fellow students from Nepal recently.

In a written response to a question by MLA Dasarathi Gamang, the Higher Education Minister today informed in Odisha Assembly that the deceased girl student had filed a formal complaint regarding sexual harassment with the KIIT University administration nearly 11 months before her tragic demise. The complaint reportedly highlighted instances of sexual harassment, raising serious concerns about student safety within the institution.

Also Read: Opposition parties question delay in KIIT University inquiry report in Odisha Assembly

If Complaint Lodged With KIIT What Actions Were Taken?

It is learnt that KIIT had also constituted an internal committee as per UGC guidelines. However, question remains why the grievances of the deceased girl could not be redressed in the subsequent days and months after the girl student lodged a written complaint regarding sexual harassment. Under such circumstances, the role of KIIT authorities has now come under the scanner, and subsequently what action was taken after the girl student lodged the complaint on 12.3.2024 by the concerned varsity is yet to be known.

Was the Sexual Harassment Allegation Taken Casually And Who Is Responsible?

Though Police is also investigating the matter and 10 persons have been arrested, it is yet to be ascertained whether the new revelation by the Higher Education Minister will be taken into consideration as part of the ongoing investigation.

However, the question remains on what actions were taken by the internal committee constituted by the KIIT University. All such issues need to be addressed including whether counselling of the victim was done or her parents were informed about the grievances.

Question also remains whether the sexual harassment was brought by the victim against her boyfriend or someone else?

The written answer of the Higher Education Minister in the Odisha Assembly has certainly given a new dimension to the entire KIIT incident.

What Senior Journalist Says On The New Development?

Senior Journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “Whatever response has come from the Higher Education Minister is a big revelation regarding sexual harassment allegation which was levelled by the deceased Nepali girl student 11 months prior to her death. Now, negligence on the part of KIIT has come to the fore. What steps were taken by KIIT officials on the grievances of the victim needs to be probed. When a girl student brought sexual harassment allegations, concerned officials should have taken steps to properly counsel her. However, it is not clear whether the allegations were brought by the deceased Nepali student against her boyfriend or someone else.”

Meanwhile, no official response could be obtained from the concerned KIIT University officials on the statements given by the Higher Education Minister in the Odisha Assembly.