NHRC Orders On-Spot Inquiry Into Odisha’s KIIT University Incident

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has ordered an on-spot inquiry into the death of a 20-year-old engineering girl student from Nepal at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, which later snowballed into a major controversy over alleged mistreatment of several other students from the neighbouring country.

Officials from the investigation division and law division of the Commission have been to submit the probe report by March 10.

“Considering the seriousness of the matter, the Commission directs the Registrar (Law) to proceed for inquiry in KIIT University, Bhubaneswar to conduct an on spot inquiry along with team consisting two officers from Investigation Division, one not below the rank of SSP and one officer/official from Law Division and submit its inquiry report to the Commission by 10th March, 2025,” the order stated.

The inquiry will be conducted under the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, it said.

The complainant, Ashutosh B, alleged that the Nepali student had faced harassment by her named ex-boyfriend and that the university’s International Relations Office (IRO)  neglected her complaints, contributing to her tragic suicide, the order mentioned.

The subsequent protests, seeking justice in the incident, saw students from the Himalayan nation being verbally abused, threatened and physical assaulted by KIIT officials and security guards, it further stated.

Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year Computer Science student, was found dead in a hostel room of the university on the evening of February 16.

While the state government has set up a high-level committee to probe into the incident, police have arrested one engineering student of the varsity, which is in judicial custody, on the charge of abetment of suicide. Ten employees of KIIT were apprehended on the charge of physical assault, verbal abuse and eviction of the students from the hostel.

The KIIT authorities have also tendered an apology over the incident.