Days after the alleged suicide of a Nepali student at Odisha’s Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), 159 Nepali students have returned to their home country, citing mistreatment by the university administration. According to Assistant Chief District Officer of Parsa, Suman Kumar Karki, these students crossed into Nepal via the Raxaul border by Thursday evening.
The deceased student, Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old third-year B.Tech (Computer Science) student, was found dead in her hostel room on February 16, triggering unrest on campus. Following the incident, KIIT reportedly ordered Nepali students to vacate their hostels.
At a press conference held at the Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu, returning students alleged that they faced abuse and inhumane treatment after Lamsal’s death. “We were beaten by security guards in the presence of university staff and forced to leave the hostel immediately,” they claimed. Despite assurances from the university administration, the students said they did not feel safe to return.
The students have called for a thorough investigation into Lamsal’s death and demanded justice for those who were allegedly mistreated.
Nepali Government Intervenes
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba addressed the issue, stating that the government had taken up the matter diplomatically. Speaking at Tribhuvan International Airport upon her return from Oman, where she attended the 8th Indian Ocean Summit, she confirmed discussions with Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj. She assured that an impartial investigation would be conducted and that measures were being taken to ensure a safe environment for Nepali students at KIIT.
Following Nepal’s diplomatic intervention, the Odisha government has formed a high-level investigation committee to probe the incident. Minister Deuba also stated that KIIT had apologized for the alleged mistreatment and had taken disciplinary action against the staff involved.
Protests in Nepal
In Nepal, protests erupted demanding justice for Prakriti Lamsal. On Thursday evening, a candlelight march was held in Birgunj, Parsa district, while another protest rally took place in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Lamsal’s home district.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of international students in Indian universities, prompting calls for better protection and accountability.
