KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 17

Nepali students at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, who were forced to leave their hostels, have expressed confusion and concern in the wake of a "suspicious death" of a Nepali student, even though the institute later retracted it's stance and encouraged students to return.

A video that has gone viral and is making numerous rounds across various social media platforms shows women from the college administration scolding, abusing and harassing Nepali students horrendously.

According to Nepali students, they were forcibly evicted from the hostel, but the campus administration claims they left voluntarily.

Tension reportedly flared up in the campus following the incident in which the student, from Butwal, was discovered "hanging" on Sunday evening.

Around 5 p.m. on Sunday, a third-year B-Tech student from Butwal, Prakriti Lamsal, was found "hanging" inside the campus hostel at KIIT.

Soon after the incident, her friends claimed that she was 'harassed' by her ex-boyfriend, Advik Srivastava, prompting her to take her own life after being unable to bear the mental pressure.

KIIT, in a statement, said, "A Nepali student studying in the third year of B-Tech committed suicide in the hostel yesterday. It is suspected that the student was in a love affair with another student studying at KIIT. It is suspected that the student may have committed suicide due to some reason."

KIIT said that the incident was immediately reported to the police.

Meanwhile, India News Diary reports that the Odisha Police have arrested Advik Srivastava, a fugitive ex-boyfriend, in connection with the alleged suicide of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal inside the KIIT hostel.

According to local media, an Indian student involved in the incident has been charged with abetment of suicide.

Several media outlets have reported visuals from Bhubaneswar as students leave the boys' hostel and arrived at the railway station in Cuttack.

Anil Prasad Yadav told ANI, "...We were pushed out of the hostel today. A girl from Nepal was found dead yesterday. We went to the International Office to find out more details about this, but we could not find anything. We were there overnight, sitting on a dharna. We were sent back to the hostel from there. We were finally told to pack up and leave within an hour. We have nothing with us. We don't know how we will go. We have not even had food...We are trying to get a ticket..."

Similarly, Rajan Gupta said, "...We were protesting for the (deceased) girl. We don't know what their intentions are, but we were forcibly made to vacate the hostel. There is no fixed schedule for the train, I have no money. We have not even had food. We are helpless...We received a notice that all students from Nepal are being suspended, and they have to vacate the hostel at the earliest. The staff members entered the hostel, made us vacate and even hit those who were not vacating quickly..."

After the news broke, hundreds of KIIT University students staged a sit-in on campus premises, chanting slogans against the administration for allegedly attempting to hide the evidence.

The campus administration claims that Nepali students blocked the road following the incident. According to a statement issued Monday afternoon, the situation has since returned to normal.

"Students are encouraged to return to campus and will be able to resume regular classes soon," KIIT said in a statement.

However, according to Nepali students, students in particular were forcibly removed from their hostels, loaded onto buses, and taken to the railway station.

According to the embassy and students, about 700 Nepalis are studying subjects ranging from computers to management at KIIT. However, the exact number is not clear.

Issuing a statement, the Nepali Embassy said that it had requested that arrangements be made for the students to stay in the hostel of the same institution while ensuring their safety.

"As per our request, the educational institution has informed this embassy that it will arrange for the students to stay in the hostel and manage the conduct of classes for Nepali students," reads the statement.

The statement also requested that Nepali students in India and guardians contact the Nepali embassy in Delhi on the hotline: +91 8929 601 935.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also took to 'X' and wrote, "Our Embassy in New Delhi has dispatched two officers to counsel Nepali students affected in Odisha."

"Additionally, arrangements have been made to ensure they have the option to either remain in their hostel or return home, based on their preference," reads his post.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba also took to her 'X' and said that after the news of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal's death in the hostel of KIIT University in Odisha, India, and the subsequent evacuation of Nepali students from the hostel reached the media, 'we immediately took this issue seriously and launched diplomatic initiatives'.

"In relation to this incident, I have been in contact with the relevant agencies since this morning.This morning, I instructed Nepali Ambassador to India Dr. Shankar Sharma to investigate the incident and take appropriate action to address the issues raised by Nepali students," reads her post.

"He is working as expected, and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi issued a statement a while ago. Similarly, this afternoon, I spoke with the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, over the phone. He has also stated that he is taking the necessary steps and coordinating for the safety of Nepali students."

Meanwhile, The Embassy of India, Kathmandu issued a statement this evening, saying it is 'deeply saddened by the tragic death of a Nepali student at the KIIT' and has extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased during this difficult time.

The Indian Embassy has said that it has been in touch with the authorities of KIIT as well as the Odisha state government. The embassy has been informed that the local authorities have initiated an investigation into the unfortunate incident.

KIIT has also issued an appeal to the Nepali students to return to the campus, resume their classes, and stay in the hostels. It has also assured that academic losses of the students will be taken care of by the Institute, according to the statement.

"Nepali students studying in India form an important facet of the enduring people-to-people links between the two countries. The Indian government will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Nepali students in India."