The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) announced on Thursday that it will investigate the alleged murder of a minor tribal student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar. The victim, a Class IX student, was reportedly killed by three hostel mates. The NCST has sent notices to the Home, School and Mass Education, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development, and Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Departments. It also asked the Director General of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate, and Khordha District Collector for updates on the case. The commission requested all reports within three days. Odisha police arrested eight KISS employees on Wednesday for allegedly hiding information related to the killing. Founded by former MP Achyuta Samanta, KISS educates about 30,000 tribal students. The three accused students were detained and presented before the Juvenile Justice Board as children in conflict with the law. Commissioner of Police S. Debadatta Singh said investigators found enough evidence to call it murder. "The deceased had a quarrel with the accused students, who were reportedly known for bullying as a group. Over a trivial issue, the victim was brutally assaulted and later strangulated," Singh explained. Preliminary probes revealed KISS authorities allegedly threatened witnesses and tried to destroy evidence. The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights demanded action against doctors who issued a false medical report claiming the victim died of cardiac arrest.