Class 9 tribal student dies at Bhubaneswar’s KISS; family alleges murder, holds protest in Keonjhar

Serious allegations have surfaced over the death of a Class IX tribal student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, with the family accusing the institute of murder, concealment of facts, and procedural lapses.

The incident triggered a protest in Keonjhar district, where the family placed the body before the district Collector’s office, demanding justice and a transparent investigation.

Sources reported that the deceased was a Class IX student from Tikargumura village in Keonjhar district and was enrolled at KISS, which is a residential educational institution for tribal students.

Family Alleges Contradictions In Official Version

According to the family, KISS authorities contacted the deceased’s father, Raghunath Munda, on Friday and informed him that his son had slipped in a bathroom, fractured his leg, and had been admitted to the hospital for treatment. Acting on the information, the father immediately travelled from Keonjhar to Bhubaneswar.

However, the family alleged that by the time he reached KIMS Medical College and Hospital, the boy had already died. They claimed that the hospital authorities handed over the body directly to the father without providing any explanation regarding the cause of death.

Raghunath Munda said he was asked to sign certain papers before taking his son’s body back home. “They told us he fell in the washroom and had been taken to the hospital. When I reached, I found that he was no more. They then asked if I would take my son’s body. They arranged the ambulance,” he said.

Allegations Of No Medical Records

The family alleged that neither the KISS authorities nor the KIMS hospital provided medical treatment papers, discharge summaries, or any written explanation regarding how the child died. They further alleged that no post-mortem examination was conducted at Bhubaneswar before the body was handed over.

Sabita Hembram, a relative of the deceased, alleged that the family was denied transparency. “They have murdered him. We want justice. They did not conduct a post-mortem. They think we are helpless because we are adivasis. Who will look after his parents?” she said, demanding compensation of Rs 1 crore.

The family questioned how a student reported to have suffered a leg fracture after a fall could die within hours without any formal medical briefing to the parents or documentation.

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Protest in Keonjhar, Body Sent for Post-Mortem

Following the allegations, the family and local residents staged a protest in Keonjhar by placing the body outside the district Collector’s office and demanding immediate administrative intervention.

Keonjhar Deputy Tahsildar Durgesh Kalyan Pradhan said the administration acted after the protest. 

“We came to know that the incident happened at an institute in Bhubaneswar. The family brought the body here. We have sent the body for a post-mortem. Further procedures will follow as per the law,” he said.

Officials said further action would depend on the post-mortem report and subsequent findings.

No Response From KISS or KIMS

At the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by KISS authorities or KIMS Medical College and Hospital addressing the allegations, the sequence of events, or the absence of medical records claimed by the family.

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of educational institutions in Bhubaneswar following a recent student’s death reported at KIIT, which had drawn the attention of national-level bodies, including the National Human Rights Commission.

“As per the allegations, the KISS authorities have not handed any papers to the family members of the deceased boy. They have said that they will send it over WhatsApp. This is not the proper procedure for an educational institute where thousands of other students study. The institute must inform the truth behind the matter and share relevant reports. The government must also take note of the matter after student deaths were reported in KIIT, which also involved the intervention of the National Human Rights Council,” said R N Panda, an educationist.