Odisha KISS student death: Classmates accused in 'spilt dal' murder
Odisha KISS student death: Classmates accused in 'spilt dal' murder
Police say a 14-year-old at KISS Bhubaneswar was murdered by three minors in a hostel washroom after a dispute over spilt dal; post-mortem confirms homicidal violence.
The death of 14-year-old Siba Munda, a class 9 student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, last week has taken a new turn with the police alleging the boy was murdered by three of his classmates inside a hostel washroom after a dispute over spilt dal. He died on December 12 at KIMS Medical College and Hospital in Bhubaneswar, where he was undergoing treatment.
The investigation has now pointed to homicidal violence, with police saying the post-mortem report indicates the death was not an accidental fall as initially claimed by KISS officials. Three students, all minors, have been apprehended and produced before the juvenile justice board in Khurda district, and have been sent to a correctional home as the case progresses.
The victim’s family staged a demonstration outside the Keonjhar collectorate, alleging that authorities at KISS concealed facts and did not provide medical records explaining the cause of death. The father, Raghunath Munda, had filed a police complaint alleging misleading information from the school authorities. Authorities in Bhubaneswar have said they are continuing the probe, with officials promising transparency while noting the need to protect minors involved in the case.
KISS officials have declined to comment on the developing case. As the investigation continues, questions are being raised about safety protocols in hostel environments and how schools handle traumatic incidents among boarding students.
