New Delhi: Over 500 Nepali students were compelled to vacate the campus of KIIT University in Bhubaneswar following protests triggered by the alleged suicide of a Nepali student on February 17, 2025.
The deceased, was, a third-year B.Tech student, who reportedly got molested and blackmailed by her ex-boyfriend, who is also a student at KIIT.
Allegations suggest that the boy threatened her to leak their intimate clips if she didnโt comply with his demands, leading to severe emotional distress.
Following her tragic death, Nepali students held protests demanding justice and the arrest of the accused. However, instead of addressing their concerns, KIIT University declared a sine die for all Nepali students, forcing them to vacate the campus immediately.
Busloads of students were left at Cuttack Railway Station, about 30 km from the university, many of whom did not have tickets to return home.
A notice issued by the university read, โThe university is closed sine die for all international students from Nepal. They are hereby directed to vacate the campus immediately today on February 17, 2025.โ
Amid mounting criticism from students, Nepalโs Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and the Nepal Embassy in India, KIIT later issued a press release appealing to Nepali students who had left or planned to leave to return and resume their classes.
Deputy Commissioner of Police for Bhubaneswar, Pinak Mishra, confirmed the incident, stating, โWe received a complaint about the reported suicide of a Nepali female student on February 16. We rushed to the hostel room and pacified the agitated students.
The girlโs mobile phone and laptop were seized, and evidence was collected following proper procedures.โ
Shradhanjali Nayak, Director of Public Relations at KIIT, clarified that a male student linked to the deceased had been taken into custody for questioning, suggesting that personal issues might have led to the incident.
She added that discussions were held with the protesting students, who later returned home, and the campus situation is now under control.
Meanwhile, Nepalโs Prime Minister expressed his support for the affected students, stating, โOur Embassy in New Delhi has dispatched two officers to counsel Nepali students affected in Odisha. Arrangements have been made for them to either stay in their hostels or return home as per their choice.โ
The incident also triggered protests outside the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, with Nepali students condemning the alleged mistreatment by KIIT authorities and demanding justice for Prakriti Lamsal.
