Assam: CIT Kokrajhar students protest after over 60 fall ill in suspected food poisoning case

Students of the Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajhar, staged a protest on Monday, September 28 following a suspected food poisoning incident at the institute’s Gambari Sikhla Girls’ Hostel, in which more than 60 students reportedly fell ill.

The incident took place on the night of September 26 at the girls’ hostel in Balagaon, Kokrajhar. According to students, several inmates developed symptoms of illness after consuming food allegedly prepared or served under unhygienic conditions. A number of affected students subsequently required medical treatment.

Following the incident, students held a protest on the CIT campus, raising concerns over the quality and safety of food supplied at the hostel and seeking action against those responsible.

The protesting students demanded cancellation of the food supply contract awarded to the contractor responsible for providing meals at the Gambari Sikhla Girls’ Hostel. They also sought the appointment of a permanent registrar, adequate ambulance facilities, improved security arrangements and action against those found responsible for the incident.

CIT Acting Registrar Hemanta Kumar Kalita said the students’ demands would be considered after a proper investigation into the incident.

Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Chakraborty said the district administration had constituted a committee to examine the incident after receiving information about the alleged supply of substandard food at the institute’s hostel.

Two Additional Deputy Commissioners have also visited the institute and are monitoring the situation, the Deputy Commissioner said. He added that strict measures would be taken to prevent the supply of substandard food to students in the future.

The incident has prompted concerns among students over food quality, hostel facilities, emergency medical arrangements and overall safety on the CIT campus. The committee’s findings are expected to determine the circumstances that led to the reported illnesses and whether any action is warranted against those responsible.