The victim, identified as 14-year-old Siba Munda, hailed from Tikargumura village in Odisha’s Keonjhar district. He succumbed to his injuries on December 12 while undergoing treatment at KIMS Medical College and Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha: In a shocking development in Odisha news, the mysterious death of a Class 9 student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar has been confirmed as murder, according to police. Investigators allege that the 14-year-old boy was killed by three of his classmates following a minor dispute over spilt dal, contradicting the institute’s earlier claim that he died after slipping in a hostel bathroom.
The victim, identified as Siba Munda, was a resident of Tikargumura village in Keonjhar district, Odisha. He died on December 12 while undergoing treatment at KIMS Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar. His death triggered public outrage after his family staged a protest outside the Keonjhar collectorate, accusing KISS authorities of hiding facts and denying them access to medical records.
According to a police complaint filed by the boy’s father, Raghunath Munda, KISS officials had informed the family that the student had fallen ill and was admitted to hospital. However, the family alleged that they were not given any clear explanation, medical documents, or discharge summaries related to the cause of death.
Officials from the Infocity police station, leading the investigation, revealed that the student was assaulted and strangulated inside a hostel washroom. Police said the incident followed an argument during a meal after dal was accidentally spilled. The altercation reportedly escalated, leading to a brutal assault by three classmates, all of whom are minors.
“The post-mortem report clearly indicates homicidal violence and rules out the possibility of an accidental fall, as earlier claimed by the institute,” a senior police officer said.
Following the findings, three minor students were apprehended and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board in Khurda district. They have been sent to a correctional home.
The case has widened further, becoming a major Odisha crime news issue. Bhubaneswar Commissioner of Police Suresh Devdutt Singh stated that eight KISS officials, including additional CEO Pramod Patra and several teachers, have been arrested. They are accused of intimidating minor witnesses, concealing evidence, and attempting to suppress the crime.
Police have also started questioning seven doctors involved in the boy’s treatment at KIMS hospital as part of the ongoing probe.
Earlier, the victim’s father alleged that the body was handed over without a post-mortem examination and that neither KISS nor the hospital provided written details regarding the death.
Meanwhile, the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has warned of strict action against the KISS administration if negligence or foul play is established.
KISS authorities have refused to comment on the incident or the arrests.
The case has raised serious concerns over student safety in Odisha residential schools and accountability in educational institutions.
