Tribal KISS student's death sparks protest, family alleges foul play
Bhubaneswar, Dec. 14 -- The death of a 14-year-old tribal student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has triggered protests in Odisha's Keonjhar district, with family members alleging that it is a case of murder.
KISS is a sister concern of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), which has reported at least three alleged suicides, including two by Nepal nationals.
Siba Munda, a class nine student from Keonjhar, died on Friday after being admitted to KIMS Medical College and Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
His family staged a demonstration with the body outside the Keonjhar Collectorate, alleging that the institute authorities concealed facts and failed to provide medical records explaining the cause of death.
According to the police complaint filed by the boy's father, Raghunath Munda, KISS authorities contacted him on Friday morning, informing him that his son had fallen sick and been admitted to hospital. Some accounts suggested the boy had slipped in a bathroom and fractured his leg.
"When I reached the hospital in Bhubaneswar in the evening, the doctor declared my son dead and sent the body to the village in an ambulance. I found some marks on my son's neck. I am yet to receive the medical report, nor have I been informed about it," Raghunath Munda said in the complaint.
Keonjhar Town police station inspector-in-charge Srikant Sahu confirmed that a Zero FIR has been lodged and forwarded to Bhubaneswar's Infocity police station. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
The agitators withdrew the demonstration after the FIR was registered and assurances were given by the administration.
KISS authorities did not react to the allegations of the parents.
No official statements were issued by KISS authorities or KIMS Medical College and Hospital addressing the allegations or the sequence of events....
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