A female Nepali student was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar on Thursday evening, in what police have described as a suspected case of suicide.
Parents arrived in Bhubaneswar
The grieving parents of the first-year B.Tech student arrived at the mortuary in AIIMS Bhubaneswar following the incident. “We received information (about her demise) at 8:00 PM,” the student’s visibly distraught mother told ANI. Her father said the family had spoken to her just hours before the incident. “On the day of the incident, we had a telephone conversation with her at 3:00 PM. She talked to us nicely,” he added.
What authorities are saying
Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh stated that preliminary findings suggest it was a case of suicide. “Prima facie, it appears to be a suicide case, as she was found in a hanging position inside a locked room,” Singh told ANI. He added that all necessary evidence had been collected and that the body was sent for a post-mortem at AIIMS.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena provided further details, saying the incident came to light during a routine attendance check. “When the hostel warden was taking evening attendance, one student did not respond. On checking, the girl was found hanging inside her room. No note was found,” Meena said.
UGC sets up fact-finding committee
In response to the incident and rising concerns, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has formed a four-member fact-finding committee headed by IGNOU Vice-chancellor Nageshwar Rao. The panel will look into the circumstances surrounding the alleged suicides at KIIT, assess the university’s adherence to student welfare norms, and recommend preventive measures.
Other members of the committee include Shashikala Wanjari (VC, NIEPA), HCS Rathore (former VC, Central University of South Bihar), and Sunita Siwach (Joint Secretary, UGC), who will serve as the committee’s coordination officer.
A worrying pattern?
This is the second such incident involving a Nepali student at KIIT in the last three months. In February, another Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, also died by suicide at the university. The latest case has triggered concerns among students, parents, and diplomatic channels, with police confirming they are in touch with the Nepali embassy. Security arrangements have been made around the campus.
