Tribal Villagers Protest at Keonjhar Collectorate Over KISS Student’s Death

Keonjhar: Tension prevailed at the Keonjhar Collectorate on Saturday after villagers belonging to a tribal community staged a protest over the death of a student of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar.

The deceased has been identified as Siba Munda, a Class IX student at KISS and the son of Raghunath Munda, a resident of Tikargumura village under Keonjhar Town police limits.

Holding the body of the deceased student, irate villagers along with family members gathered in front of the Collectorate, demanding justice and a thorough investigation into the incident. The family alleged that the minor was murdered and claimed that they had earlier lodged a complaint at the Keonjhar Town Police Station.

Police personnel were deployed at the spot to maintain law and order as the protest continued for several hours. Further details surrounding the circumstances of the student’s death were awaited.

According to the complaint filed by the family, KISS authorities contacted them on the morning of December 12, informing that the student had fallen ill and was admitted to KIIMS Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Raghunath Munda stated that when he reached the hospital later in the evening, doctors declared his son dead and sent the body to the village in an ambulance.

“I noticed marks on my son’s neck. I have not yet received the medical report, nor have I been informed about it,” Raghunath Munda alleged in his complaint, seeking a fair and transparent probe into the matter.

Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the cause of death.