Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India, has ordered all Nepali students to leave the university over a dispute following the suspicious death of a Nepali student studying at the university.
Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B.Tech student from Butwal, reportedly took her own life on Sunday after enduring persistent harassment from an Indian student. Fellow Nepali students claimed that despite previous complaints, the university administration failed to take action against the perpetrator.
Following Lamsal’s death, Nepali students staged a peaceful protest demanding justice. However, instead of addressing their concerns, the university administration ordered them to vacate the hostels. “We were demanding justice for Prakriti in a peaceful manner, but instead of listening to us, they forced us out,” the Kantipur daily reported a protesting Nepali student said. “Those who refused to leave were beaten by security guards.”
The university took more than 500 Nepali to the railway stations in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for expulsion, but with the next train to Nepal only available on Thursday, many remain stranded.
KIIT, the police have launched an investigation, and the student accused of harassing the victim girl has been arrested.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has reached out to the university administration over the safety of Nepali students. “As soon as we were informed of the incident, we contacted the university officials and urged them to ensure the safety of Nepali students,” said Surendra Thapa, deputy chief of mission at the embassy.
KIIT issued a statement suggesting Lamsal’s death might be linked to a romantic relationship, a claim strongly rejected by her peers. “This is not about a personal matter; this is about harassment and institutional negligence,” another student attending the protest said.
Security has been tightened at the university, and Lamsal’s room has been sealed. Her family members are on their way to India. Over 800 Nepali students are reportedly enrolled at KIIT, India.
In the meantime, the university has issued a supersession notice stating that Nepali students willing to stay in the university hostel could remain there.
