The Indian Embassy in Nepal has assured a proper investigation into the untimely death of Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B Tech student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha. The embassy has asked Nepali students to return to campus during the unrest after the incident.
Lamsal reportedly committed suicide in her hostel on Sunday, and this led to mass protests among the around 1,000 Nepali students studying at the institute. The protesters vented their anger by blocking roads and fighting with campus security, resulting in the arrest of a male student.
Outside the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, Nepali students staged a protest demanding a thorough investigation into Lamsal’s death.
In reply, the embassy reiterated the significance of Nepali students to India-Nepal cultural relations and said, “The Government of India will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of the Nepali students in India.”
As protests grew more intense, reports came in that KIIT officials had asked several Nepali students out of their hostel and left them at Cuttack railway station with no travel arrangements. The university subsequently explained that extensive counseling initiatives had been attempted to ease tensions, but there were still some protestors who went about disturbing order.
To ensure an impartial inquiry, the university recommended Nepali students to go back home temporarily with local guardians, ensuring that their studies would not be disrupted. To ensure campus security, two police platoons were stationed, and Lamsal’s room was sealed and her body preserved in the mortuary until her family came.
Lamsal’s father blamed the institute for the ill-treatment of Nepali students, saying, “This should not happen again. The institute ill-treated them.”
Following the incident, the state higher education minister directed KIIT to make special arrangements for the return of Nepali students. The university has set up a 24/7 control room and helpline to help students returning to campus.
Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli stated that officials were sent to advise affected students, providing them with the option of going home or remaining in their hostel. For those requiring mental health assistance, services like the Vandrevala Foundation and TISS iCall are accessible.
