The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has launched a scathing attack on the Bhubaneswar commissionerate police. The criticism centers on the probe into the murder of a minor student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) school. The commission alleges the police showed undue leniency towards KIMS hospital, where the boy was first declared dead.
Serious Lapses in Medical and Legal Protocol
OSCPCR chairperson Babita Patra announced that a notice will be issued to the police. The notice will question why no action has been taken against the doctors of KIMS hospital. The boy died under suspicious circumstances on December 12. Patra highlighted that the doctors neither conducted a mandatory postmortem nor informed the police about the death.
She pointed out grave failures in how the hospital managed the case. Despite visible injury marks on the victim's neck, the doctors released the body to the family on the same day. They attributed the death to cardiac arrest without notifying the authorities. The situation turned into a major controversy only after a postmortem at a government hospital in Keonjhar on December 13. This second autopsy confirmed the boy was strangled.
Allegations of Collusion and Police Inaction
The child rights body suspects a possible collusion between KIMS authorities and KISS officials to hide the crime. "Since both institutions belong to the same group, their connivance cannot be ruled out," Patra stated. She also questioned the delayed police action against the hospital. While police have arrested eight KISS staff members for murder and evidence destruction, the hospital faces no action yet.
Patra expressed astonishment at the police's proximity to the crime scene yet lack of immediate awareness. "It looks strange that the Infocity police, whose station is located a stone's throw from the KISS campus, could not get a whiff of the murder," she remarked. The police detained three hostel mates of the deceased and made the arrests on Wednesday.
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Outrage
When approached for comment, both KISS and KIMS declined to respond. However, Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh assured that the investigation is progressing correctly. "Our investigation is ongoing. Whoever is found guilty will not be spared," Singh told The Times of India.
Police sources revealed that the boy's treatment records from KIMS have been sent to a medical board for detailed examination. The board will scrutinize whether the doctors followed prescribed treatment and legal reporting protocols. This breach of mandatory procedure has sparked anger among legal experts and child rights activists in Odisha.
Activist Sujata Priyadarshini echoed the commission's demand, stating that the hospital administration must be held accountable for its failure. The case continues to develop as pressure mounts on authorities to ensure justice for the minor student.
