Bhubaneswar: In a disturbing recurrence, a third-year BTech student from KIIT was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Monday night, marking the second such incident within two months. The police have launched an investigation into the case, examining possible factors behind the tragedy.

The deceased, identified as Arnab Mukherjee from Bankura, West Bengal, was a resident of a KIIT hostel. However, his body was discovered near an under-construction multi-storey building in Bhubaneswar’s Mancheswar area. The circumstances surrounding his presence there remain unclear.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities have initiated a probe into the case. “We are looking into the circumstances that led to the student’s death,” said Biswajit Senapati, ACP of Zone-5, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police. The police have registered an unnatural death (UD) case at the Mancheswar police station and are examining CCTV footage, call records, and questioning hostel mates for leads.

The body has been sent to Capital Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

KIIT's Response

KIIT authorities stated that they had reported Arnab Mukherjee as missing to the Infocity police station before his body was found. “We are waiting for the police to determine why he was in Mancheswar and what led to his death,” a KIIT spokesperson said.

Previous Incident at KIIT

This tragedy follows the recent death of another third-year BTech student, Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old from Nepal, who allegedly died by suicide in her hostel room on February 16.

Following her death, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh revealed that the investigation uncovered evidence of harassment by a fellow student, Advik Srivastava, which may have contributed to the incident. “We found prima facie evidence of harassment, which could have led to her suicide. The accused has been arrested,” he stated.

With two student deaths in quick succession, authorities are intensifying their probe to uncover any potential links and ensure student safety on campus.