The tragic death of Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old Nepali student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, has sparked massive protests, diplomatic concerns, and arrests. The incident, which unfolded during the university’s annual fest, has drawn scrutiny from both Indian and Nepali authorities.
Case Overview: What Happened?
Prakriti, a third-year B.Tech (Computer Science) student, was found dead in her hostel room on Sunday afternoon. Authorities initially registered the case as a suicide, but the circumstances surrounding her death ignited widespread protests within the campus.
Reports suggest that Prakriti was facing verbal and physical abuse from Advik Shrivastava, a 21-year-old B.Tech (Mechanical) student at KIIT. A viral audio clip revealed a man hurling abuses at a sobbing woman, coercing her into making degrading remarks about herself. Though the individuals in the audio refer to each other as Advik and Prakriti, NDTV could not independently verify its authenticity.
Following her death, Advik was arrested outside Bhubaneswar’s airport on Monday and charged with abetment of suicide. Meanwhile, Prakriti’s post-mortem was conducted at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and her body has been handed over to her family, who are set to take her remains back to Nepal.
Her father, Sunil Lamsal, expressed anguish over the incident, stating:
I sent my daughter for higher studies, trusting that she would be safe. What happened is unacceptable.
Student Protests and University Response
Protests erupted across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, with student organizations like Nav Nirman Chhatra Sangathan demanding justice. Demonstrators gathered outside KIIT’s Gate No. 4, condemning the university’s inaction.
In response, KIIT announced disciplinary action against multiple officials:
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Two security personnel were terminated.
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Two senior hostel officials and an administrative officer from the International Relations Office were suspended pending an inquiry.
Additionally, KIIT issued a formal apology, assuring that measures were being implemented to enhance student safety.
Allegations of Violence Against Nepali Students
Nepali students protesting Prakriti’s death faced alleged manhandling by KIIT authorities. Reports suggest that instead of engaging with the students, university security personnel resorted to physical force.
Viral videos show students being assaulted and verbally abused, with senior university officials making derogatory remarks against Nepal. One official even claimed that KIIT’s annual budget exceeds Nepal’s GDP.
As protests continued, KIIT took an unprecedented step—ordering all Nepali students to vacate the university premises immediately.
A university statement read:
The University is closed Sine Die for all the International students from Nepal. They are hereby directed to vacate the university campus immediately today on 17th February 2025.
Students were reportedly put on university buses and dropped off at Cuttack railway station without prior notice. One student remarked:
They (KIIT) didn’t say anything, they just asked us to leave.
Nepal’s Diplomatic Intervention
Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dispatched two embassy officers from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar to assist affected students. The Nepalese government has warned of potential restrictions on No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for students seeking admission to Odisha universities unless the situation is resolved justly.
KIIT Founder Achyuta Samanta held discussions with Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Shankar P Sharma, outlining the university’s corrective measures. These included a formal apology from the Vice-Chancellor and dismissals of implicated staff.
Odisha Government Launches High-Level Probe
The Odisha government has formed a three-member fact-finding committee to investigate both Prakriti’s death and the university’s handling of the protests. The panel, led by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), includes officials from the Higher Education and Women & Child Development departments.
State Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj criticized KIIT’s response, stating:
"The institution failed to inform the government about the incident, including the forced eviction of foreign students. KIIT is now under notice, and appropriate legal and administrative action will follow."
Suraj also demanded answers on why Nepali students were left at Cuttack railway station and why the Odisha government was kept uninformed. Reports suggest that 100 Nepali students remain on campus, while around 800 have returned to Nepal.
Arrests & Legal Action Against KIIT Officials
Odisha Police have arrested six individuals, including university officials and security personnel. The accused include:
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Advik Shrivastava (charged with abetment of suicide).
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Director General (HR) Sibananda Mishra.
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Director (Administration) Pratap Kumar Chamupaty.
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Director of Hostels Sudhir Kumar Rath.
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Two security guards (Jogendra Behera and Ramakanta Nayak) involved in the violence against protesters.
Two separate FIRs have been registered:
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Suicide Case – based on a complaint from Prakriti’s cousin.
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Student Assault Case – initiated by police after videos of security personnel attacking students went viral.
Additionally, reports suggest that local goons coerced students into deleting evidence from their phones.
Father's Allegations and Post-Mortem Findings
The student’s body was examined at AIIMS Bhubaneswar in the presence of her family and a Deputy District Magistrate. Prakriti’s father, Sunil Lamsal, alleged that his daughter was subjected to continuous harassment, leading to her tragic decision. He held Advik Shrivastava responsible for her death, reinforcing calls for strict legal action.
Her body was scheduled to be flown to Nepal on Thursday.
Apologies and Diplomatic Fallout
In viral videos, KIIT faculty members Manjusha Pandey and Jayanti Nath were heard making controversial remarks. Ms. Pandey claimed KIIT "feeds and educates over 40,000 students for free," suggesting this figure was equivalent to Nepal's national budget. Ms. Nath echoed similar statements.
Both later apologized, with Ms. Pandey saying, "My statements were made in the heat of the moment. If my words hurt the sentiments of any Nepali students or people of Nepal, I sincerely apologise." KIIT also issued an apology, removing two officials, though they were not named, and encouraged Nepali students to return to their studies.
The Nepalese government responded strongly, warning it may suspend No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for students applying to Odisha universities if the matter isn't addressed "justifiably and legally." Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli personally assured that the government was addressing the issue through diplomatic channels, with the Embassy in New Delhi offering support to affected students.
The Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incident "unimaginable" and emphasized ongoing communication with Indian authorities and KIIT. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also assured the safety of Nepali students in India.
Political Fallout in Odisha
The incident has turned into a political controversy.
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Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry.
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The BJP, which recently ousted Naveen Patnaik’s BJD, has called for the arrest of KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta.
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The BJD, in turn, has blamed the incident on deteriorating law and order under the new BJP-led government.
During a heated debate in the Odisha Assembly, MLAs condemned the incident, with one Congress leader stating:
This has brought a bad name to the state, and it cannot be tolerated.
Ongoing Investigation
Bhubaneswar Commissioner of Police S. Devdutta Singh assured Prakriti’s family that justice would be served. Meanwhile, Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj reiterated that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is committed to taking strict action against those found guilty.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to uncover the full truth behind Prakriti’s tragic death and the ensuing unrest at KIIT University.
With inputs from agencies
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