Five staff members, including three directors and two security guards, were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the protests at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar.
The protests followed the alleged suicide of a Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, which has sparked outrage among Nepali students at the campus.
The protests intensified when KIIT authorities attempted to forcibly evict several students from the campus. Over 500 Nepali students joined the protests, leading to a significant standoff. Police reports detail how security guards and university officials allegedly used force to remove the protesting students. Witnesses have claimed that the guards verbally abused and physically assaulted the students, resulting in injuries.
The arrested individuals have been charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The incident has drawn significant attention, with diplomatic intervention and widespread media coverage.
Legislators cutting across party lines on Tuesday expressed grief in the Odisha assembly over the death of a Nepali student on the KIIT campus here and condemned the alleged mistreatment of several other students from the neighbouring country by the private institute's authorities.
The issue was raised during the Zero Hour by Biju Janata Dal member PK Deb who said the girl’s suicide and subsequent development brought shame to the state.
The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) was accused of evicting a group of Nepali students from their hostel, amid tension on the campus following the death of Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B-Tech student of the institute.
“The incident has brought down the name of Odisha at the international level,” Deb claimed.
Also read: KIIT Nepali student suicide: MLAs raise issue in assembly, seek probe
KIIT’s Vice-Chancellor issued an apology for the incident. The letter stated, "KIIT has always been a home to students from across the world, fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect, and care. We deeply regret the recent incident and reaffirm our commitment to the safety, dignity, and well-being of all our students, including our dear Nepali students."
The controversy began when Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year BTech student, was found dead in her hostel room on Sunday evening. Her friends claimed that she had been harassed by her ex-boyfriend, Advik Srivastava, which led to her suicide. Prakriti's father also accused Srivastava of emotional blackmail and harassment.
Following a complaint from Prakriti's brother, police filed a case. Srivastava was arrested and charged with abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the BNS.
The protests were triggered by this tragic incident. The students, particularly from Nepal, demanded justice for Prakriti. Tensions escalated when the university attempted to evict some of the protesting students, which led to further unrest and prompted diplomatic intervention from the Nepali government.
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