Bhubaneswar: Tension prevailed at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar on Monday after a female student from Nepal was reportedly found dead under mysterious conditions on the hostel campus.
The student, Prakriti Lamsal, was pursuing a BTech in computer science from the university. While the exact reason behind her death is yet to be ascertained, she was suspected to have died by suicide.
It was alleged that she took the extreme step after being harassed by a male friend from the same university, over their strained relationship.
Sources said the third-year BTech student was reportedly in a relationship with a mechanical engineering student of the same university. However, things took a turn for the worse when the boy received a job offer and relocated, leading to a misunderstanding between the two.
The incident sparked outrage among the students, with many taking to the streets to demand justice for the deceased student. Irate students blocked roads near the campus and called for the arrest of the deceased’s boyfriend.
To manage the volatile situation and restore order, police forces were swiftly deployed to the University campus. As of the latest report, two platoons of police personnel have been deployed at the scene to pacify the agitated students.
Appeal to Nepali students by KIIT
Meanwhile, the institute, which had asked international students from Nepal to leave the campus immediately following protests, have now appealed to them to return and resume the classes. “The KIIT administration has taken all-out efforts to restore normalcy in the campus and hostels to resume the academic activities,” KIIT-DU Registrar JR Mohanty said in a video statement.
Earlier, some students said they were asked to leave the hostel. “We were told to vacate hostel rooms and dropped at the railway station. We had to appear for an examination on February 28,” a student told reporters at the Cuttack railway station.
The institute clarified that the Nepal students have been sent to their respective homes in view of the prevailing situation.
In a separate statement, the Nepalese Embassy in Delhi also said the KIIT has assured that it would arrange for the accommodation of the Nepalese students in the university hostel and hold classes for them.
The embassy added it was in contact with the Indian government and the Odisha chief minister’s office and coordinating with authorities on the incident.
Nepalese embassy officials sent to KIIT to counsel students
Taking to his official X handle, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli informed that Nepal’s embassy in New Delhi has sent two officials to counsel Nepalese students at KIIT.
“Our Embassy in New Delhi has dispatched two officers to counsel Nepali students affected in Odisha. Additionally, arrangements have been made to ensure they have the option to either remain in their hostel or return home, based on their preference,” he wrote.
Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba said diplomatic initiatives were being taken regarding the incident.
One arrested
Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj termed the incident unfortunate one. He also informed about arrest of one person in connection with the incident. If any other person is involved in the case, he or she will be arrested as well, he added.
Police have also seized mobile phone and laptop of the deceased.
Stating the sine die declaration has been revoked, Suraj said that the OSRTC has been directed to run buses to bring back the Nepali students to the institute.
