The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar has announced a scholarship in memory of Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old Nepalese student who was found dead in her hostel room on February 16. Her death, which is suspected to be a suicide, led to widespread protests on campus.

KIIT's founder, Achyuta Samanta, met Prakriti’s family to offer condolences and promised support for Nepalese students. The decision to offer the scholarship came after officials from Nepal’s embassy in New Delhi visited the university, assuring students of their safety. Many Nepalese students who had left the campus following the incident have now started returning.

What happened at KIIT?

Prakriti Lamsal was a third-year BTech Computer Science student at KIIT. According to reports, she may have taken her own life after being harassed by Advik Srivastava, a 21-year-old mechanical engineering student from the same university. Advik is believed to be the son of a politician from Lucknow. He was arrested for encouraging suicide and is now in jail.

After Prakriti’s death, there was a lot of tension on campus. Some Nepalese students said that the university did not handle the situation properly. Reports also said that many students had to leave the campus suddenly, without any proper notice, which made people even more upset.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Nepal

The case created tensions between India and Nepal. The Nepalese government said it might stop sending students to Indian universities if justice was not done. Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, got involved and sent embassy officials to check on the safety of Nepalese students. Nepalese leaders also discussed the issue in their Parliament and asked for a proper investigation.

In India, the case became a political issue. The ruling party in Odisha, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and the opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), argued over how the case was handled. Some people also raised concerns about KIIT’s political connections.

After receiving a lot of criticism, KIIT apologised to the public. The university took action by suspending three officials and firing two security guards because of how they handled the protests. A senior official, who was accused of ignoring Prakriti’s earlier complaints, was also suspended.

A voice recording went viral, in which a university staff member was allegedly heard making rude comments about Prakriti and her mother. This made the protests even stronger. However, it is not yet confirmed if the recording is real. Some Nepalese students also said that security guards used too much force against them. Videos of these incidents were shared online.

In another controversy, KIIT suspended staff members who made insensitive comments comparing the university’s budget to Nepal’s national economy. These individuals later issued public apologies.

Ongoing investigation and legal action

The Odisha government has formed a special committee to investigate Prakriti’s death and the allegations against university officials. Police have also arrested three university officials and two security guards for allegedly assaulting Nepalese students during protests. Both the Indian and Nepalese governments are closely monitoring the developments.

The case remains a serious concern, with calls for justice and better protection for international students studying in India.

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