Bhubaneswar: Four more officials of KIIT Deemed University have been asked appear before the high-level committee, probing the alleged death by suicide of 20-year-old Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal and the subsequent unrest on the campus.
The Higher Education Department has summoned Chief Proctor P K Patnaik, Director Sanhita Mishra, Internal Committee chief Ipsita Satpathy, and Assistant Director Smarika Pati. They have been asked to appear before the panel on February 27 at 11.30 am, sources said on Tuesday.
On February 21, the high-level probe committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahu, had questioned KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta and at least seven senior officials of the varsity. They were asked as to why notices were issued only to Nepali students to leave the hostel and why the institution failed to act on the harassment complaint filed by the deceased girl for over a month. Samanta and others were also questioned about the alleged racial abuses directed at the Nepali students, according to reports.
The Ministry of External Affairs, meanwhile, reiterated that India accords high priority to the safety, security, and well-being of all international students in the country.
Also Read: Come Back, Join Classes: Achyuta Samanta’s Message For KIITians From Nepal [Watch]
Campus Unrest
The university has been in the eye of the storm since February 16 when a 3rd-year computer science student, was found hanging in her hostel room. It spiralled into a major crisis when students from the Himalayan Country were asked to vacate the campus following protests, demanding justice for the deceased, who they alleged took the extreme step after being blackmailed by a student of the university.
Taking the issue seriously, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli urged the centra and the state government to take appropriate action in this regards. Since then, the university has suspended three officials for ‘misconduct’ and removed two security guards from service for allegedly thrashing the students.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government has directed KIIT authorities to take strict action against employees involved in the mistreatment of Nepali students. The directive came after Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, raised concerns with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, insisting that teachers and staff who misbehaved with Nepalese students be removed.
Also Read: Odisha CM Speaks To Nepal Foreign Minister On KIIT Row, Vows To Restore Normalcy & Ensure Safety
Nepal Human Rights Body Seeks Justice
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nepal has approached its Indian counterpart, seeking justice to the victim and mistreated students from the Himalayan nation. It also requested India’s NHRC to guarantee safety of their students studying there, and hold the office-bearers to account with a fair investigation.
“The commission has written to the National Human Rights Commission of India requesting an early investigation into the incident of Nepali students studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University. The commission urged to ensure full safety to the students studying there, and hold the office-bearers to account with a fair investigation.”
“As information is being received that Nepali students who were forced to leave the university due to the circumstances arising from the incident are still unable to return to the university in a fear-free environment, the Commission urges the Government of Nepal to take further diplomatic initiatives in this regard and create an environment where students can study,” the Nepali Human rights governing body stated.
