By Sunil Jena, Editor-in-Chief | The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar: A fresh controversy has erupted in Bhubaneswar after the death of another student inside the KIIT University campus. The body of Rahul Yadav, a first-year Computer Science student from Chhattisgarh, was reportedly found in a hostel under unclear circumstances. As of now, no official confirmation has been made on how the incident occurred, and an investigation is underway.
This is the third student death reported from KIIT within one year. Earlier, two Nepali students were found dead in separate incidents, both of which triggered massive debates across Odisha and even reached Delhi. The state government sent teams for inquiry, and the National Human Rights Commission also intervened. Yet, the complete details and the exact reasons behind those deaths remain unresolved.
In the latest case, the sudden death of Rahul Yadav has again raised several questions related to student safety, hostel monitoring and institutional accountability. The KIIT administration has not yet issued a detailed response to the matter, adding to the concerns already expressed by parents and the public.
The earlier cases continue to be emotionally charged. The father of Nepali student Prisa Shah had publicly appealed for justice, mentioning that a mentally strong girl was unlikely to end her life and requested a high-level investigation to uncover the truth. His demands reflected the growing anxiety among parents who send their children to educational institutions away from home.
Political reactions have also begun to surface. MLA Saroj Padhi had earlier criticised the administration after the Nepali students’ cases, saying the situation inside KIIT appeared alarming and that Odisha’s name should not suffer due to any institutional lapse. He had also said that strict action would be taken if any wrongdoing was proven, and no guilty person would be spared by the Mohan Majhi government.
With yet another death reported, the pressure is likely to intensify. Stakeholders, including students, parents, political leaders and civil society groups, are now expecting a transparent investigation and clear answers to prevent further tragedies.
The coming days will determine whether the authorities take decisive steps to ensure accountability and strengthen the safety measures within the campus. For now, the questions raised by these repeated incidents remain unanswered, and public concern continues to rise.
