Police officer giving information about the case. (Awakening)
Jagran correspondent, Bhubaneswar. A big revelation has come to light after the police investigation in the case of suspicious death of Shiv Munda (14), a class 9 student of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), located in the Infocity police station area of the capital.
Police Commissioner S Devdutt Singh, while giving information to the journalists, said that after the preliminary investigation, the case has now been converted into a serious crime like murder and hiding evidence.
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S. Dev Dutt Singh said that the student was strangled to death by his own classmates and the institute management made every possible effort to suppress the incident.
The Police Commissioner said that it has become clear in the investigation that the death was not natural. The post-mortem report has found clear marks of pressure on the neck, which confirms murder by strangulation. He said that a group of students named 'Joker Gang' carried out this incident after a minor dispute.
Threats given to students, pressure to hide the truth
The commissioner revealed that minor students were threatened to hide the incident. KISS officials, teachers and staff were pressurizing the students to remain silent. However, the team formed under the leadership of ACP Zone-6 Sonali contacted other students who informed about the murder.
The safety of the students who testified has been ensured. Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena, ACP Zone-6 Sonali Parmar were also present in the press conference.
Dead body handed over to family by giving wrong information
According to the police, contrary to the medical findings, the KISS management told the family that the student died of a heart attack and the body was handed over without informing the local police. This is being considered as serious negligence and an attempt to suppress facts.
In the case registered under case number 656 (dated 13.12.2025) at Infocity police station, earlier section 106(1) BNS was imposed, which after investigation was changed to section 103(1)/232/238/351(3)/296/249(a)/3(5) BNS along with section 103(1) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. 75 has been added.
what is the whole matter
A Zero FIR was received by Infocity Police Station through CCTNS portal from Town Police Station, Kendujhar on 13th December 2025 at 2:31 PM.
The complaint was lodged by the deceased's father Raghunath Munda. He told that on December 12, he received a call from ISS officials that his son has been admitted to KIMS Medical College for treatment. On reaching the hospital, doctors declared the child dead. The father noticed injury marks on the neck of the body, after which serious suspicion was raised on the KISS management.
Revelation from postmortem and statement of students
The postmortem report revealed that there were external injuries on the neck and that the throat was strangulated with some rough and hard object. Classmates and hostel mates of the deceased said that three minor students were involved in this incident.
During interrogation, the minor admitted that he had beaten, strangled and murdered Shiba Munda when she refused to give him a bucket in the toilet block on the night of 11 December.
Accused of hiding evidence, teacher-employee arrested
The investigation also revealed that after the incident, some teachers and staff tried to hide the crime. It is alleged that minor witnesses were threatened, asked to remain silent and helped in destroying evidence.
On this basis, the police have arrested the following 8 accused –
This includes KISS Additional CEO Pramod Kumar Patra, TGT teacher Vinay Kumar Gochhi, Senior Academic Coordinator Prasanna Kumar Mall, Teacher Pradeep Kumar Das, Headmaster Rashmiranjan Nayak, Assistant Field Officer, Hostel Hemant Kumar Mohapatra, Boys Hostel Supervisor Shubhkant Behera, Assistant Teacher Sujata Mishra.
Minor accused before Child Justice Board
The three minor accused involved in the murder have been presented before the Juvenile Justice Board. Action has also been taken against them under section 103(1)/3(5) BNS.
According to police officials, this is not just a fight between students, but a serious case of planned murder and subsequent concealment of evidence. A thorough investigation of all aspects is underway. At present, interrogation of all the arrested accused is going on and further revelations are expected in the case.