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Bhubaneswar: The tragic suicide of a 20-year-old Nepalese BTech student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) has escalated into a diplomatic issue, with Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli urging the Indian government to intervene. The student allegedly took her own life in her hostel room after enduring repeated harassment on campus, triggering protests from Nepalese students.
Harassment Allegations and Arrest
A 21-year-old student from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on charges of repeatedly harassing the deceased. The victim’s cousin filed a complaint at Infocity police station, alleging that multiple complaints against the accused had gone unheard by the institute’s authorities.
Nepal PM Calls for Action
Taking to social media, Nepalese PM Oli addressed the incident, stating:
"It has come to our attention through media and social media that a Nepali student has died in the hostel... and that Nepali students have been forcibly evicted from the hostel. The government is working on this matter through diplomatic channels and is in contact with the relevant authorities."
Later, on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, he confirmed that Nepal’s embassy had sent officials to Bhubaneswar to support affected students and ensure they had the option to either stay on campus or return home.
Campus Uproar and Evictions
Following the student’s death, scores of Nepalese students protested on campus, accusing the university of failing to act on the victim’s previous complaints. The university, however, denied these allegations.
After videos of clashes between campus security and protesting students went viral, KIIT suspended all academic activities for Nepalese students and issued an order for them to vacate the campus immediately.
A Nepalese student at Cuttack railway station, quoted by PTI, described the chaos:
"Everything happened too fast. We were told to vacate our hostel rooms and were dropped at the railway station. We even have an exam scheduled for February 28."
Odisha Government Steps In
Following international pressure, the Odisha government directed KIIT to allow Nepalese students back onto the campus. In an official statement, the institute announced:
"All-out efforts have been made to restore normalcy in the campus and hostels to resume academic activities. An appeal is made to all our Nepali students who have or plan to leave the campus to return."
Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj stated that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had ordered the authorities to handle the matter with “utmost seriousness”, given India’s strong diplomatic ties with Nepal.
"KIIT should not have evicted the Nepali students," Suraj told reporters.
Looking Ahead
As tensions ease following government intervention, the focus now shifts to ensuring justice for the deceased student while providing a safe and secure environment for Nepalese students at KIIT. The incident has also raised questions about the handling of harassment complaints and the treatment of international students in Indian institutions.
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