Kokrajhar: Students of the Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajhar, staged a protest on Monday after more than 60 students reportedly fell ill in a suspected food poisoning incident at the institute’s Gambari Sikhla Girls’ Hostel.
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. Some of the affected students subsequently required medical treatment.
Following the incident, students protested on the CIT campus, raising concerns over the quality and safety of food supplied at the hostel and seeking action against those responsible.
The protesters demanded cancellation of the food supply contract awarded to the contractor 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, Chakraborty said. He added that strict measures would be taken to prevent the supply of substandard food to students in the future.
The committee’s findings are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported illnesses and whether any action is warranted against those responsible.