KISS student death case takes grim turn: Police confirm murder, eight staff arrested as bullying nexus surfaces

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, DECEMBER 17, 2025

In a major development in the death of a student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), the Commissionerate Police on Wednesday confirmed that the case is one of murder and arrested eight staff members of the institute for alleged negligence and procedural lapses, even as a disturbing bullying angle emerged during the investigation.

Those arrested include Additional CEO Pramod Patra, TGT Binaya Kumar Gochhi, Academic Coordinator Prashant Mall, teacher Pradeep Kumar Das, Headmaster Rashmi Ranjan Naik, Assistant Field Officer Hemant Mohapatra, Supervisor Shubhakanata Behera and Assistant Teacher Sujata Mishra. In addition, a few minor students have also been detained in connection with the case.

The incident dates back to December 12, when a boy student from Keonjhar district was found dead inside the KISS campus. The institute initially claimed the student had died of a heart attack and handed over the body to the family without informing the local police. However, suspecting foul play, the deceased’s family approached the Keonjhar Police Station, alleging that their son had been murdered. A zero FIR was registered and subsequently transferred to the Infocity Police Station in Bhubaneswar for detailed investigation.

Addressing a press conference, Commissioner of Police S. Dev Datta Singh said the KISS authorities had handed over the student’s body to the family without informing the local police, initially claiming that the death was due to a heart attack. Following the family’s allegations, police launched a detailed investigation, including a post-mortem examination.

The post-mortem report later revealed that the student had died due to strangulation. Based on documentary evidence, circumstantial findings and witness statements, police concluded that the death was a clear case of murder.

During the investigation, statements from other students brought to light the alleged involvement of a group referred to as the “joker gang,” which was reportedly engaged in bullying activities on the campus. Police said sustained bullying by the group is believed to have played a crucial role in the death of the Keonjhar boy.

The Commissioner of Police said the arrests were made due to the negligent and lackadaisical approach of certain KISS officials in handling the incident and for failing to follow mandatory procedures, which hampered timely police action. Further investigation is underway to reconstruct the exact sequence of events and fix responsibility in the case.