In a tragic turn of events, Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year Nepali student at KIIT University, reportedly died by suicide. Her untimely death has sparked significant diplomatic and administrative responses, as well as unrest among the student community.
The Nepal Government, led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, has dispatched two officials to counsel and support the Nepali students studying at the Bhubaneswar-based private university. This decision came after the Prime Minister posted on ‘X’ expressing the government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the affected students. Arrangements have been made to allow students to either remain in the university’s hostel or return to Nepal.
KIIT University, initially directing Nepali students to vacate the campus, later reversed its decision, encouraging them to stay and resume their classes. The university has assured a fair investigation into Prakriti Lamsal’s death and is making alternative arrangements for the classes until the Nepali students return to campus.
The Nepal Students’ Union (NSU) has demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding Prakriti’s death, alleging the university’s negligence in addressing her previous complaint against a male friend, Advik Srivastava, for abuse. NSU attributes the university’s inaction as a contributing factor to Prakriti’s tragic demise.
With over 800 Nepali students at KIIT University, this incident has led to heightened tensions and calls for justice, highlighting the need for better support systems and prompt actions to address students’ grievances.
