KIIT University

Nepali Student’s Death, Controversial Audio, and Chaos: The Unfolding Crisis at KIIT University

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KIIT University:

The discovery of a 20-year-old Nepali student’s body in her hostel room at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT University) in Bhubaneswar has led to widespread protests, arrests, diplomatic unease, and significant political fallout. Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B.Tech student at KIIT University, was found dead in her room on Sunday afternoon, which initially prompted the police to label it a suicide. However, the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death soon sparked outrage and led to campus unrest.

Prakriti, originally from Nepal, was allegedly facing physical and verbal abuse from Advik Shrivastava, a fellow B.Tech student at the same university. The situation escalated when an audio clip, which went viral after Prakriti’s body was discovered, surfaced. In the audio, a man, believed to be Advik, is heard unleashing a tirade of verbal abuse, while Prakriti sobs in the background. The man reportedly forces her to call herself a derogatory name and manipulates an apology out of her. While the authenticity of the recording has not been independently verified, it raised doubts about the true nature of Prakriti’s death and triggered protests by Nepali students demanding an inquiry into the university’s handling of the matter.

Advik Shrivastava, a 21-year-old student from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested by the police the following day and charged with abetment to suicide. Prakriti’s body was sent for a post-mortem at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and it was later handed over to her family, who will be sending her body back to Nepal. Her father, Sunil Lamsal, expressed his shock and heartbreak, saying, “I had sent my daughter for higher studies, trusting that she would be safe. What happened here is unacceptable.”

Violent Crackdown on Protests and Forced Eviction of Nepali Students

The protests over Prakriti’s death quickly turned violent when the university, instead of addressing the students’ concerns, allegedly responded with force. Videos circulated on social media showed security personnel and university officials manhandling protesting students and subjecting them to verbal abuse. In one of the viral videos, two senior officials of KIIT were seen making derogatory comments about Nepal, with one even mocking the country’s GDP in comparison to KIIT’s annual budget for its 40,000 students.

As protests continued, the university’s administration made the controversial decision to evict all Nepali students from the campus with only days left before exams. A university notice stated, “The University is closed Sine Die for all International students from Nepal. They are hereby directed to vacate the university campus immediately today on 17th February 2025.” The students were sent to Cuttack railway station to fend for themselves, without any clear instructions or assistance from the university. One Nepali student described the situation, saying, “They (KIIT) didn’t say anything, they just asked us to leave.”

Odisha Government’s Intervention and Investigations

In response to the mounting tension, the Odisha government formed a three-member fact-finding committee to investigate both Prakriti’s death and the university’s handling of the protests. The committee, headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), includes officials from the Higher Education and Women and Child Development departments.

State Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj criticized KIIT for failing to inform the government about the incident, including the forced eviction of Nepali students. He stated that appropriate legal and administrative action would be taken once the committee’s findings were presented. Suraj also questioned why Nepali students had been dropped off at Cuttack railway station without proper care or information.

As of now, about 100 Nepali students remain on campus, while approximately 800 others have left for Nepal. In total, six individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including Advik Shrivastava and three senior university officials—Director General (HR) Sibananda Mishra, Director (Administration) Pratap Kumar Chamupaty, and Director of Hostels Sudhir Kumar Rath. Additionally, two security guards involved in the violent crackdown, Jogendra Behera and Ramakanta Nayak, have also been detained.

Apologies and Diplomatic Fallout

In the aftermath of the protests and violence, some university staff members publicly apologized for their statements. Faculty members Manjusha Pandey and Jayanti Nath, who were seen making derogatory remarks about Nepal in the viral videos, later issued apologies, claiming their comments were made in the heat of the moment. Pandey said in a video message, “If my words hurt the sentiments of any Nepali students or people of Nepal, I sincerely apologise.”

KIIT also issued an apology, removed two officials from service, and urged Nepali students to return to their hostels and continue their studies. However, the incident did not go unnoticed by the Nepalese government, which expressed its deep concern over the treatment of Nepali students in India. The Nepalese government issued a strongly worded statement, warning that it might suspend the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Nepali students seeking admission to universities in Odisha if the matter was not resolved in a “justifiable and legal way.”

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli personally intervened, assuring that the matter was being handled through diplomatic channels. He also announced that officers from the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi were sent to counsel affected students. The Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as “unimaginable” and pledged to remain in constant contact with Indian authorities to ensure the safety of Nepali students in India. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also assured that it would work to guarantee the safety and security of Nepali students in India.

Political Fallout in Odisha

The incident quickly became a political issue in Odisha, with opposition parties demanding a judicial inquiry. The Congress party called for a thorough investigation into the incident, while the ruling BJP, which recently secured a historic victory over the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state, demanded the arrest of KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta. The BJD, on the other hand, shifted the blame to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state under the BJP-led government.

The issue also reached the Odisha Assembly, where lawmakers from various parties condemned the events at KIIT. A Congress MLA stated, “The developments at KIIT have brought a bad name to the state, and this cannot be tolerated.”

As the situation continues to unfold, Prakriti Lamsal’s tragic death has raised serious questions about the safety and treatment of international students in Indian universities, as well as the responsibility of university administrations in addressing student grievances. With diplomatic tensions between India and Nepal escalating and ongoing investigations into both the death and the university’s actions, the issue remains far from resolved.

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