Tragedy struck at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) when a 20-year-old BTech student of Nepalese origin allegedly took his own life after being incessantly harassed on the campus. Following this heartbreaking incident, the tragedy quickly escalated into a diplomatic storm, with Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli urging the concerned authorities to promptly settle the case through diplomatic measures.
Suicide Allegedly Linked to Harassment
The 20-year-old Nepali student, a third-year BTech student, allegedly committed suicide in her hostel room after several complaints of harassment by a 21-year-old Lucknow student. The cousin of the victim complained to Bhubaneswar’s Infocity police station that the complaints of harassment had been overlooked by the authorities.
It has been brought to our notice through media and social media that a Nepali student has passed away in the hostel. And that Nepali students have been forcefully removed from the hostel. The govt is addressing this issue through diplomatic channels and is in touch with the concerned authorities,” wrote Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on his social media accounts.
Our Embassy in New Delhi has dispatched two officers to counsel Nepali students affected in Odisha.
Additionally, arrangements have been made to ensure they have the option to either remain in their hostel or return home, based on their preference. #Nepal #Odisha
— K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) February 17, 2025
Protests Erupt Over Alleged Forced Eviction of Nepalese Students
Soon after the death of the female student, Nepalese students of KIIT gheraoed the administration, seeking action against the harassment complaint. The university refuted the allegations, prompting a confrontation between students and the campus security personnel. Social media videos of the clashes went viral, increasing the protests.
The matter took a diplomatic turn as Nepalese students alleged they were forcibly thrown out of the hostel after the protests. The Prime Minister, in reply, put up a post on X, stating, “The Nepal embassy had deputed a pair of officers to Bhubaneswar to counsel the affected Nepalese students. Besides, arrangements were made to ensure they have the option to either stay in their hostel or go home, depending on their choice.”
KIIT Closes Campus and Expels Nepalese Students
The administration at KIIT ordered the expulsion of Nepalese students from the campus, which has been criticized. “We were asked to leave our hostel rooms and left at the railway station. We have an exam on Feb 28,” a Nepalese student from KIIT told PTI. The campus was also shut “sine die” for all foreign students from Nepal.
Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj reacted, stating that, as a result, the Odisha government had asked KIIT to take the issue seriously, especially in light of the significance of India’s diplomatic relations with Nepal. “KIIT should not have expelled the Nepali students,” he underscored.
Odisha Government Intervenes
To counter the increasing tensions, the Odisha government, therefore, ordered KIIT authorities to permit Nepalese students to rejoin campus. “All-out efforts have been made to restore normalcy in the campus and hostels to resume academic activities,” declared KIIT authorities in a release.
Even after the authorities’ intervention, tensions are still high as Nepalese students continue to wait for assurances of their safety and the results of the investigation.
