KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 18
Indian police have arrested Advik Shrivastava, the main accused in the case involving a death of Nepali student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Additionally, two security personnel of the university have been detained for allegedly manhandling Nepali students while they were forced to vacate their hostels following the incident.
The case revolves around the untimely demise of Prakriti Lamsal (20), a third-year Computer Science student at KIIT University, who reportedly died by suicide in her hostel room. According to police reports, Lamsal had allegedly faced harassment from Shrivastava (21), a third-year B.Tech (Mechanical) student.
Following a complaint, Shrivastava was arrested on Monday and subsequently placed in judicial custody. Police have seized documents and electronic gadgets as evidence in the ongoing investigation, according to the press note issued by the Police Commissionerate, Bhubaneswar.
In the wake of Lamsal's death, Nepali students at KIIT staged protests, prompting the university administration to declare a 'sine die' (indefinite closure) and order students to vacate their hostels. During the evacuation, Nepali students were allegedly manhandled by university security personnel, leading to a criminal case being filed against two security guards, Ramakanta Nayak (45) and Jogendra Behera (25).
Many Nepali students, after being asked to vacate, had moved to railway stations in Cuttack.
Following widespread criticism, KIIT withdrew the 'sine die' order and appealed to Nepali students to return to their hostels. In a follow-up notice, the university expressed deep regret over the incident and announced the termination of the two security staff involved. Additionally, two senior hostel officials and a senior administrative officer from the International Relations Office (IRO) have been suspended pending a thorough inquiry.
The university also apologized for the behavior of its staff, acknowledging that certain comments were made in the heat of the moment. A dedicated control room has been set up to facilitate the return of Nepali students, with the university urging them to contact +918114380770 for assistance.
Earlier a video had surfaced and had since gone viral in which women from the college administration are seen and heard scolding, abusing and harrasing the nepali students.
KIIT Vice Chancellor Prof. Saranjit Singh issued a formal apology earlier today, stating, "We are extremely appalled by the untoward incident that took place on campus on February 16. "We are also regretful of the way some of us behaved with the agitating students. We love our students and have never done any disservice to them. The comments made by two of our officers were extremely irresponsible."
"Although the comments were made in their personal capacity in the spur of the moment, we do not support their actions. We have removed them from service. They too have apologized for their behavior. We also apologize for all that has happened and hereby extend our love and affection to all the students and people of Nepal."
We love them as much as we love the people of India and the people of the world," the apology letter added. Additionally, we are again appealing to our Nepali students to join regular academics with immediate effect, it added.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu expressed deep sorrow over Lamsal's death, extending condolences to her family. In a press release on Monday, the embassy assured that it was in close coordination with KIIT authorities and the Odisha state government regarding the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Embassy in India on Monday had also requested KIIT University to arrange safe accommodations for affected students in their hostels.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed the issue on social media platform 'X,' on Monday confirming that two officers had been dispatched from the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi to counsel students and ensure their safety. Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba also stated that Nepal's Foreign Ministry had launched immediate diplomatic initiatives regarding the incident.
The death of Prakriti Lamsal has sparked calls for a thorough investigation in Nepal.
During a National Assembly session today, Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal urged the government to take diplomatic action. Several lawmakers, including Radheshyam Paswan, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Mohammad Khalid, Tula Prasad Bishwakarma, and Tulasa Kumari Dahal, demanded a serious probe into Lamsal's case and stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of Nepali students studying in India.
Similarly, members of Parliament have urged the government to take immediate diplomatic and political initiatives to ensure the safety of Nepali students studying in India. During today's House of Representatives meeting, MPs, including Chhabi Lal Bishwokarma, Madhav Sapkota, Dhurba Bahadur Pradhan, and Thakur Gaire, called for a thorough investigation into the mysterious death of Prakriti Lamsal, action against those responsible, and assurances of security for Nepali students at KIIT.
Additionally, this afternoon, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzoo Rana Deuba took to social media, stating that the government is continuously following up on the death of Prakriti Lamsal and the developments that have unfolded since. She mentioned that two senior officers from Nepal Police, stationed at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, arrived at KIIT University this morning to assess the situation and ensure a safe environment for Nepali students. Foreign Minister Deuba also said she spoke to the officers over the phone and instructed them to coordinate with Indian security personnel for a thorough investigation while also working with the university administration to provide necessary assistance and ensure the students' safe stay in the hostel.
