The tranquil campus of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, was thrust into turmoil following the tragic death of 20-year-old Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year BTech student from Nepal, on February 16, 2025. Found deceased in her hostel room, Lamsal’s death was linked to alleged harassment by her ex-boyfriend, Advik Srivastava, a fellow student who was subsequently arrested under charges of abetment to suicide and emotional blackmail. The incident triggered immediate outrage among Nepali students, who accused the university of ignoring repeated complaints about Srivastava’s behavior, leading to protests demanding accountability.
As tensions escalated, KIIT authorities faced severe backlash for their handling of the crisis. On February 17, over 500 Nepali students were abruptly instructed to vacate their hostels, with many forcibly transported to Cuttack Railway Station without adequate travel arrangements, leaving them stranded. Videos of security personnel assaulting protesters further inflamed the situation, prompting Odisha’s Higher Education Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, to condemn the evictions as “unjust” and demand answers from the university. The state government swiftly intervened, forming a three-member fact-finding committee to investigate both Lamsal’s death and the institution’s controversial response.
Diplomatic channels buzzed with activity as Nepal’s Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba pressed for impartial investigations and student safety. Nepal’s embassy dispatched officials to Bhubaneswar, coordinating with Odisha authorities to facilitate the return of evicted students and ensure their academic continuity. The Odisha government, acknowledging the strain on bilateral ties, established a 24×7 helpline and appointed a nodal officer to address grievances, while KIIT retracted its “sine die” closure order and appealed for students to resume classes.
In a bid to restore trust, KIIT’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Saranjit Singh, issued a public apology, condemning the “irresponsible” actions of staff members involved in the evictions. Two faculty members, Manjusha Pandey and Jayanti Nath, also tendered video apologies after facing criticism for derogatory remarks comparing KIIT’s budget to Nepal’s national expenses. Disciplinary measures followed, including the suspension of senior hostel officials and the dismissal of security guards caught assaulting students. Additionally, the university announced a scholarship in Lamsal’s memory, aiming to honor her legacy and mend fractured relations with the Nepali community.
Legal proceedings gained momentum as police registered dual cases: one focusing on Lamsal’s suicide and another targeting university staff for violence against protesters. Six individuals, including directors and security personnel, were arrested, while Srivastava remained in judicial custody. Amid mounting pressure, Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, assured Nepal’s government of a fair probe, emphasizing the state’s commitment to student safety and diplomatic harmony.
The incident reverberated in legislative assemblies, with lawmakers in both Nepal and Odisha decrying institutional failures. Nepal’s Education Ministry threatened to halt no-objection certificates for students bound to Odisha unless justice was served, while Odisha’s opposition parties demanded judicial inquiries and accountability for KIIT’s founder, Achyuta Samanta. As Lamsal’s father, Sunil, prepared to repatriate her body, he lamented the university’s broken promises of security, urging authorities to prevent similar tragedies.
With over 100 students returning to campus and exams looming on February 28, KIIT and Odisha officials worked to stabilize the environment. However, the incident’s ripple effects—ranging from strained Indo-Nepal relations to scrutiny of private universities’ accountability—underscore a pivotal moment for educational governance and cross-border student welfare. As investigations continue, the quest for justice for Prakriti Lamsal remains intertwined with broader calls for institutional transparency and compassion in academia.
