Nepalese Student’s Death Sparks Campus Unrest in Odisha, 159 Return Home

Kathmandu: Days after the alleged suicide of a Nepalese female student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, tensions escalated on campus, leading to 159 Nepali students to return home via the Raxaul border, an official confirmed.

Assistant Chief District Officer of Parsa, Suman Kumar Karki, stated that 159 Nepali students arrived back in Nepal through the Raxaul border by Thursday evening.

The deceased student, Prakriti Lamsal (20), was a third-year B.Tech (Computer Science) student at KIIT. She was found dead in her hostel room on February 16. The incident started to stir among students, leading to allegations of misconduct by the college administration, which reportedly ordered Nepalese students to vacate the hostel.

1,000 Nepalese Students Studying at KIIT

There are around 1,000 Nepalese students studying at KIIT, Odisha. Following the incident, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba assured that the government had resolved the matter through diplomatic channels.

Speaking at Tribhuvan International Airport upon her return from Oman, where she attended the 8th Indian Ocean Summit, Deuba said, “The Nepal government has resolved the problem surrounding the death of a Nepali student in KIIT Odisha through diplomatic channels by handling the situation seriously,” as quoted by news agency PTI.

She further mentioned that she had spoken to Odisha’s Higher Education Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, who assured an impartial investigation into Lamsal’s death and a safe environment for Nepalese students to return to their hostels and resume classes.

Also Read: Death of Nepalese Student in Odisha's KIIT University, PM Oli Steps In | 10 Points

'High-Level Investigation Committee'

Following Nepal’s diplomatic intervention, the Odisha government took the matter seriously and formed a high-level investigation committee, Deuba confirmed.

“After our response, the college has apologised for the incident and taken action against its staff who misbehaved with Nepalese students,” she added.

Protests Erupt Across Nepal Demanding Justice

Meanwhile, protests demanding justice for Prakriti Lamsal have taken place across Nepal. On Thursday evening, a candlelight march was held in Birgunj of Parsa district. Additionally, a group of students in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi—Lamsal’s home district—organised a protest rally seeking justice.