A wave of student unrest gripped the Central Institute of Technology (CIT) in Kokrajhar on Monday as students gathered to demand strict action against the hostel mess contractor and an overhaul of food safety and hygiene protocols across campus. The agitation followed a severe incident over the weekend in which more than 60 residents of the Gambari Sikhla Girls' Hostel took ill shortly after having their evening meal.
Suspected Food Poisoning Follows Saturday Dinner
The health crisis began on Saturday night when residents of the Gambari Sikhla Girls' Hostel consumed dinner served at the hostel dining facility. Soon after the meal, dozens of students began reporting acute symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and headaches. As the condition worsened for multiple residents, several students were moved to Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital for urgent medical care. Attending physicians stated that the patients were receiving treatment for suspected food poisoning, confirming that their vital signs remained stable under medical monitoring.
Negligence Claims and Demands for Contract Termination
Student demonstrators voiced severe frustration over what they described as persistent administrative negligence and poor oversight by the catering contractor. According to the protesting students, grievances regarding unhygienic conditions inside the mess kitchen had been raised with the authorities on several previous occasions without any corrective measures being implemented. In response to the mass sickness, the demonstrators demanded an immediate termination of the catering contract currently assigned to the provider servicing the Gambari Sikhla Girls' Hostel.
Broader Administrative Grievances and Official Stance
Beyond the immediate cancellation of the catering deal, the students presented a wider charter of demands to ensure student well-being on campus. These include the formal appointment of a permanent registrar, the provision of adequate ambulance services on site, upgraded campus security protocols, and penal accountability for whoever is found culpable for the contamination. Addressing the agitation, CIT Acting Registrar Hemanta Kumar Kalita noted that the management would deliberate upon the students' demands once an extensive inquiry into the incident reaches its conclusion.
District Administration Orders Full Investigation
Intervening in the health scare, the District Magistrate of Kokrajhar ordered the registrar of the institute to conduct a comprehensive enquiry into the episode. The district administration has sought complete documentation regarding the specific meal served, the approved weekly menu, the procurement origins of raw grocery items, cooking practices, meal distribution methods, and overall compliance with sanitation standards. Authorities are also evaluating medical reports detailing the treatment given to the affected students to pinpoint the exact contamination pathway and determine administrative lapses.
