KIIT suicide: Odisha CM pledges justice, assures safe environment for Nepali students

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in a meeting with Nepali officials Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Das Adhikari in New Delhi, on Feb 19 assured to ensure justice for the death of a Nepali girl student at KIIT, who reportedly took her own life after facing harassment from another student.

Majhi emphasized the state government's commitment to restoring peace on the KIIT campus and urged Nepali students to return and resume their studies, assuring that normalcy would soon be restored.

Furthermore, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba discussed the matter with Suryabanshi Suraj, the Minister of State for Higher Education.

According to Suraj, a high-level meeting was held with Nepali government representatives who had come to India, in the presence of Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling.

Suraj confirmed that the state government has decided to establish a help desk to assist Nepali students who have been affected or wish to return to the KIIT campus.

The help desk aims to instill confidence in Nepali students. IAS officer Kali Prasanna Mohapatra has been appointed as the nodal officer by the Higher Education Department, with Rajat Manasingh serving as the deputy director.

The help desk, which will operate around the clock, will consist of nine staff members.

Suraj also emphasized that the administration is taking the matter very seriously, with measures being implemented to ensure a favorable environment on the KIIT campus, allowing students to focus on their studies, particularly as their exams approach on Feb 28.

Deuba later posted on X, saying that the Nepali government is investigating the student's death at the KIIT hostel, as well as the surrounding circumstances.

She urged Suraj to ensure an impartial inquiry into the incident and called for legal consequences for the responsible individual.

She also requested that the Indian government guarantee that all Nepali students in the state can resume their studies in a safe environment.

“He also informed that a separate hotline has been arranged for Nepali students and their parents to get necessary advice and arrangements have been made for those who have gone home to return to their hostels for further studies,” she added.

The Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, along with India's Ministry of External Affairs, is coordinating with Indian security personnel and the university administration.

Meanwhile, the three-member official fact-finding team, led by the additional chief secretary, has outlined the procedures for the investigation. The team will also visit the KIIT campus in connection with the matter.

ABVP activists held protests in the PMG area, calling for justice for the deceased girl student and an impartial investigation into the alleged misbehavior of KIIT authorities with students.

KIIT announced a scholarship in honor of Prakriti Lamsal. In a statement released by the institute, KIIT and KISS founder Achyuta Samanta confirmed the decision on Feb 19, following a meeting with the deceased student's father and uncle.

Samanta expressed his heartfelt condolences, saying, "A scholarship will be established in Lamsal's name as a tribute to her memory."

After fulfilling legal requirements, the deceased student's body was sent to Nepal on Feb 19, according to officials.

Protests erupted on the KIIT campus after Lamsal, a third-year B Tech (Computer Science) student, allegedly took her life in her dorm room on Feb 16. The incident led to the expulsion of 95 students.

KIIT later apologized after facing criticism for expelling Nepali students following the incident.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Saranjit Singh issued a public apology for Lamsal's death and acknowledged that two officers made careless remarks in their personal capacities.

He confirmed the dismissal of the involved officials and encouraged Nepali students to return to their regular studies.

In response, the Odisha government has assured the safety of Nepalese students at KIIT University, which is home to around 1,000 Nepali students.