The tragic suicide of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar has heightened tensions on campus. The situation worsened when the university administration, rather than addressing the issue, ordered all Nepali students to vacate the campus, provoking further unrest. This decision, followed by the forced transportation of students to Cuttack Railway Station, sparked widespread condemnation and protests from local student organisations.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) reacted quickly to the university’s actions, staging protests outside the campus and expressing solidarity with the affected Nepali students. ABVP activists provided food, water, and emotional support to the students at Cuttack Station while calling for justice for Prakriti Lamsal. The national leadership of ABVP condemned the university’s actions, describing them as inhumane and a violation of human rights. The ABVP’s intervention proved crucial in resolving the situation. Following persistent protests and pressure, the university reversed its decision and invited the Nepali students to return to campus.
The police identified the victim as 20-year-old Prakriti Lamsal from Nepal and the accused as 21-year-old Advik Srivastava, a resident of Lucknow. The tragic incident led to widespread protests on campus, with students blocking the main road leading to the university.
Police reported that Lamsal, who was studying B.Tech in Computer Science, was found dead in her hostel room. The accused was arrested outside the airport on Sunday evening and has been charged under Section 108 of the BNS (abetment of suicide).
Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra stated, “On Sunday evening, we received a complaint from Siddhant Sigdel, who claimed his cousin had committed suicide in her hostel room. Our team immediately visited the scene, seized the body, and collected her laptop and phone as requested by the protesting students.”
The victim’s family has arrived in Bhubaneswar to collect her body following the post-mortem. According to the FIR, the complainant suspects that the accused had been blackmailing his cousin, which may have led her to take the extreme step.
Later that evening, upset students blocked the road near the KIIT campus, alleging that the university had failed to take action when Lamsal reported harassment by her batchmate to the International Relations Office (IRO). KIIT Registrar Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty confirmed that Lamsal had lodged a complaint with the IRO regarding the accused’s “misbehaviour.” The IRO had called both students, counselled them, and warned the accused, although no formal written documentation was obtained from him.
Earlier, Mohanty suggested that the victim’s suicide was the result of a “strained relationship” with the accused, stating that the two were in a relationship. As protests intensified, the university announced that all international students from Nepal were to vacate the campus “sine die,” urging over 500 students to board buses and be dropped off at various railway stations, where they were instructed to head home.
Local ABVP workers protested outside KIIT University, condemning the actions of the university administration. The demonstrators expressed their support for the Nepali students involved in the incident. After the Nepali students were forcibly removed from the campus and dropped off at Cuttack Railway Station, ABVP members showed their solidarity by providing food and water to them.
ABVP strongly condemns the inhumane atrocities committed by the @KIITUniversity administration against protesting students following the tragic suicide of a Nepali student. ABVP staged a protest demanding strict action against those responsible.#ABVPOdisha pic.twitter.com/ajlPD24baw
— ABVP Odisha (@abvpodisha) February 17, 2025
The national leadership of ABVP also expressed deep sorrow over the tragic suicide of Prakriti Lamsal, a Nepali student at KIIT, and called for a fair and thorough investigation into the case. They condemned the university’s attempts to silence students demanding justice for her death. The directive to expel Nepali students from the campus was not only unlawful but also a grave violation of human rights, severely affecting the relationship between India and Nepal. ABVP argued that instead of suppressing students, the administration should conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lamsal’s suicide, including allegations of harassment.
Press Release
ABVP Demands a Fair Investigation and Protection of Student Rights in the Tragic Suicide Incident of a Nepali Student at KIIT, Odisha”
“The Order for Nepali Students to Vacate the KIIT Campus Following the Suspicious Death of a Student Is Unethical and Inhumane:… pic.twitter.com/xwJe6MYDfg
— ABVP (@ABVPVoice) February 17, 2025
ABVP National General Secretary Dr Virendra Solanki stated, “The news of a Nepali student’s suicide under suspicious circumstances at KIIT, Odisha, is deeply saddening and heart-wrenching. At a time when ensuring a fair investigation is essential, the administration’s decision to order Nepali students to vacate the campus is inhumane and insensitive. ABVP activists have met with the affected students and assured them that we stand firmly by their side in demanding justice. Students have staged protests under ABVP’s leadership, and following our intervention, the abandoned Nepali students are now allowed to remain on campus and resume their academic activities. Furthermore, ABVP urges the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene in this matter to safeguard student rights and ensure justice.”
#EffectOfABVP
Following ABVP's protest against the order for Nepali students to vacate the KIIT campus after the suspicious death of a girl, the KIIT administration has asked all Nepali students to return to campus and resume their classes.#ABVPOdisha #ABVPForStudents pic.twitter.com/ODWTjqTE53— ABVP Odisha (@abvpodisha) February 17, 2025
Nepal’s Prime Minister also expressed concern over the situation, leading the university to reverse its decision and allow the Nepali students to stay on campus.
In a statement, the KIIT administration emphasised its efforts to restore normalcy in both the campus and hostels to resume academic activities. The university appealed to all Nepali students, whether they had already left or were planning to leave, to return and continue their classes.
APPEAL!
There was an unfortunate incident which took place late in the evening yesterday on the KIIT campus. Immediately after the incident, police investigated the matter and apprehended the culprit.
The KIIT administration has taken all-out efforts to restore normalcy in the… pic.twitter.com/0o3vFs2TWi
— KIIT – Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (@KIITUniversity) February 17, 2025
The Nepal Embassy in New Delhi also intervened, stating that they had contacted the university administration and relevant authorities to address the situation. The embassy urged the university to ensure the safety of Nepali students, to which the administration assured that the students would be allowed to remain in the hostel.
