February 18, 2025: The Indian Embassy in Nepal has assured a thorough investigation into the tragic death of Nepalese student, Prakriti Lamsal, who was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha. The Embassy's statement comes in the wake of mounting protests following the incident, which is being investigated as a suspected suicide.
Lamsal, a third-year B Tech student, was found dead on Sunday, sparking an outpouring of anger and grief among fellow Nepalese students at the Bhubaneswar-based institution. Over 1,000 Nepalese students study at KIIT, and many took to the streets in protest, chanting slogans, blocking roads, and pushing through campus gates. A male student has been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
In response to the unrest, a group of Nepalese students also staged a demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, demanding a thorough probe into Lamsal’s death. Placards calling for justice and transparency were displayed during the protest.
The Indian Embassy has urged Nepalese students to remain calm and return to their studies. “KIIT has appealed to Nepali students to return to the campus, resume their classes, and stay in the hostels. Nepali students studying in India form an important facet of the enduring people-to-people links between the two countries. The Government of India will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of the Nepali students in India,” the Embassy’s statement emphasized.
The situation at KIIT remains tense, with reports suggesting that the university authorities had evicted several Nepali students from their hostels amidst the unrest. Disturbingly, these students were allegedly dropped at Cuttack railway station without proper arrangements for their travel, further inflaming tensions.
Authorities have yet to comment on the allegations regarding the eviction of students, and further investigations are underway to uncover the circumstances surrounding Lamsal's tragic death.