Police Arrest Five More KIIT Staff for Assault on Nepalese Students

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development, police have arrested five additional staff members of the private engineering institution KIIT for allegedly assaulting Nepalese students during the hostel vacating process. This brings the total number of arrests in connection with the incident to 11, including an engineering student accused of abetting the suicide of a 20-year-old Nepalese woman in her hostel room on Sunday.

Following the tragic incident, Nepalese students staged protests, demanding justice for their deceased fellow student. The authorities of KIIT directed the students to vacate their hostel rooms, a process that turned violent when certain staff members allegedly attacked them.

According to the Infocity Police Station, CCTV footage confirmed the involvement of the five arrested employees in the assault, which took place on Monday between 11:00 AM and 12:20 PM. The footage reportedly shows the staff confronting the Nepalese students and ordering them to vacate immediately. When some students were unable to leave within the expected timeframe, the staff members allegedly became aggressive, verbally abusing them before resorting to physical assault. Fearing further violence, the students fled the premises.

The arrested individuals were later produced in court, where their bail petition was denied. Based on the evidence presented by the police, the court remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days.

Earlier, five other KIIT employees had been arrested in connection with the incident, but they were granted bail, leading to criticism from various sections of society. Many questioned the handling of the case and the leniency shown to those accused of violence.

Police have registered two separate cases related to the suicide of the Nepalese student and the subsequent attack on other students from the neighboring country. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the involvement of KIIT staff in both incidents. Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty, emphasizing the need to uphold law and order within educational institutions.

The tragic events have sparked widespread discussion on student safety and the responsibilities of educational institutions in ensuring a secure environment for all students, including those from international backgrounds.