Authorities in Bhubaneswar have revealed that the death of 14-year-old Class 9 student Siba Munda at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) was a homicide, stemming from a minor altercation involving spilt dal in the hostel. Police investigations indicate that three minor classmates assaulted and strangulated the victim inside a washroom, contradicting earlier claims by institute officials that he died from an accidental fall in the bathroom. The incident, which occurred on December 11, 2025, has led to the apprehension of the accused juveniles and arrests of several staff members for alleged cover-up attempts.

Siba Munda, hailing from Tikargumura village in Keonjhar district, was declared dead on December 12 at KIMS Medical College and Hospital. His father, Raghunath Munda, raised alarms after noticing injury marks and receiving no clear medical documentation from the institute or hospital. Family protests outside the Keonjhar collectorate prompted a formal complaint, resulting in a zero FIR that was transferred to Infocity police station for detailed probing. The post-mortem examination confirmed homicidal violence through multiple sharp force injuries and strangulation marks, refuting any notion of natural or accidental causes.

Three minor students have been detained as children in conflict with law and presented before the Juvenile Justice Board in Khurda district, subsequently remanded to a correctional home. Reports suggest the assailants, part of a self-styled group known among peers as the "Joker Gang," acted following a petty dispute, with some accounts specifying refusal to share a bucket or spillage of food as the trigger. Confessions obtained during questioning detail a sequence of beating followed by throttling in the hostel facilities.

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In a significant development, eight KISS officials, including Additional CEO Pramod Patra and several teachers and supervisors, have been arrested for intimidating witnesses, threatening minors to suppress facts, and concealing evidence. Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Suresh Devdutt Singh addressed the media, emphasizing institutional lapses such as failing to report the incident promptly and fabricating narratives around the cause of death. Additionally, seven doctors involved in the case are under interrogation regarding procedural irregularities.

The case has drawn scrutiny from the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which had previously cautioned the institute against any findings of unnatural death. As investigations continue, this tragedy highlights concerns over student safety, bullying, and administrative transparency in residential educational institutions catering to tribal communities, prompting calls for stronger oversight and protective measures.

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