Following the alleged suicide of Nepalese student Prakriti Lamsal at KIIT in Odisha, 159 Nepali students returned home after the college ordered them to vacate the hostel. Students reported inhumane treatment, including abuse from security personnel, and felt unsafe despite assurances from the university administration. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba stated that the government addressed the situation through diplomatic channels, ensuring an impartial investigation and a safe environment for returning students. In response, the Odisha government formed a high-level investigation committee, and protests demanding justice for Lamsal have occurred in her home district.
Kathmandu:
Following the alleged suicide of a Nepalese female student at an Odisha university, the college administration has ordered Nepali students to leave the hostel, prompting 159 students to return home via the Raxaul border, as reported by an official.
According to Suman Kumar Karki, the Assistant Chief District Officer of Parsa, a total of 159 Nepali students crossed back into the country from the Raxaul border by Thursday evening.
Prakriti Lamsal, 20, a third-year B Tech (Computer Science) student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, reportedly took her own life in her hostel room on February 16, which has led to unrest on campus.
Currently, there are about 1,000 Nepalese students enrolled at KIIT in Odisha.
Dissatisfied students who returned to Nepal spoke to the media at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu, claiming they faced “inhuman treatment” at KIIT following the incident involving a fellow Nepalese student.
“After the unexplained death of Prakriti Lamsal, we were subjected to abuse and cruel treatment,” the students reported.
“In the presence of university teachers and staff, we were physically assaulted by security guards and ordered to evacuate the hostel immediately,” they continued.
The returnees expressed feelings of insecurity regarding their potential return to the college, despite assurances made by university officials.
“Despite the college’s promises, there has been no safe and conducive environment for study,” they added.
The students insisted that a thorough investigation into Prakriti Lamsal’s death is necessary and that the affected individuals deserve justice.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba announced that the government has addressed the issues stemming from the death of the Nepalese student through diplomatic measures.
Deuba spoke to media upon her arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport from Oman, where she attended the 8th Indian Ocean Summit, stating, “The Nepal government has taken serious diplomatic steps to resolve the situation surrounding the death of a Nepali student at KIIT Odisha.” The foreign minister also mentioned discussions with Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj to ensure an impartial investigation and a secure environment for returning Nepalese students to their hostels and classes.
She added that following Nepal’s diplomatic initiatives, the Odisha government has taken the matter seriously and established a high-level investigation committee.
“After our intervention, the college has apologized for the incident and has acted against staff members who misbehaved towards Nepalese students,” she noted.
In the meantime, a candlelight vigil demanding justice for Prakriti Lamsal took place in Birgunj, Parsa district, on Thursday evening.
Additionally, a group of students held a protest rally in Bhairahawa, the home district of Prakriti Lamsal, calling for justice.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)