The minister’s disclosure, made in response to a query from Congress MLA Dasarathi Gamango in the state assembly, has reignited scrutiny over KIIT’s handling of the case. Lamsal’s death on February 16, linked to alleged harassment by fellow student Advik Srivastava, triggered widespread protests by Nepalese students and diplomatic tensions between India and Nepal.

Nepal student had filed harassment complaint with KIIT authorities: Odisha minister

In a shocking revelation, Odisha’s higher education minister Suryavanshi Suraj stated on Friday that a 20-year-old student from Nepal, who tragically died by suicide at the KIIT campus in Bhubaneswar in February, had filed a “sexual harassment” complaint against the university authorities nearly eleven months prior. The minister’s statement came in response to a query by Congress MLA Dasarathi Gamango in the state assembly.

According to Suraj, in a written reply to the assembly, the woman had filed the harassment complaint on March 12, 2024. The minister further informed that a high-level committee formed by the state government is currently investigating the matter in detail. The university has confirmed the formation of an internal committee in line with UGC guidelines to address the issue.

Suraj also mentioned that the higher education department had not provided any grants to KIIT during the last financial year. As reported by The Indian Express, the investigation into the complaint is ongoing.

While KIIT formed an internal committee per UGC guidelines, critics, including the student’s father, Sunil Lamsal, accuse the university of negligence and mistreatment. The Odisha government has launched a high-level probe, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has ordered an on-spot inquiry, with a report due by March 10, 2025. As investigations deepen, questions loom over accountability and the safety of international students at KIIT.

NHRC to probe suicide case of Nepalese girl, ordered an on-spot inquiry into the death

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had ordered an on-spot inquiry into the death of a Nepalese girl student at KIIT University in Odisha and directed its officials to submit a report by March 10. The NHRC issued this order in response to a complaint stating that the 20-year-old student had died by suicide in her hostel room at KIIT University on the afternoon of February 16. The commission had specified that the investigation should be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

“Considering the seriousness of the matter, the commission directed the Registrar (Law) to proceed with an inquiry at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, to conduct an on-spot investigation along with a team comprising two officers from the investigation division, one not below the rank of SSP, and one officer/official from the Law Division, and submit its inquiry report to the Commission by 10th March, 2025,” the NHRC order had stated.

As reported by Hindustan Times, the complainant, Ashutosh B, in his petition, had alleged that the Nepalese student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University had been harassed by her “ex-boyfriend” and that the university’s International Relations Office (IRO) had ignored her complaints, which he claimed ultimately led to her suicide.

Background

In February 2025, the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, was thrust into controversy following the suicide of Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old Nepalese BTech student. On February 16, Lamsal was found dead in her hostel room, an act linked to alleged harassment by a fellow student, Advik Srivastava, who was later arrested for abetment. Lamsal had filed a sexual harassment complaint with KIIT’s International Relations Office 11 months earlier, in March 2024, but no significant action was reportedly taken. Her death sparked outrage among the university’s approximately 1,000 Nepalese students, who staged protests demanding justice and accountability from the administration.

The situation escalated when KIIT authorities allegedly evicted protesting Nepalese students, forcing them to leave campus without prior notice, some dropped off at Cuttack railway station without tickets. This heavy-handed response drew widespread criticism, leading to diplomatic tensions between India and Nepal. Nepal’s government intervened, with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba calling for an impartial probe and the removal of involved staff. The Odisha government formed a high-level committee, and the National Human Rights Commission began investigating. Amid the unrest, over 150 Nepalese students returned to Nepal, while KIIT claimed most later resumed studies.

Sent daughter for higher studies: father of student who died by suicide

The father of the Nepali student, whose body was discovered in her hostel at the KIIT campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on February 18 (Tuesday), has accused the private engineering institute of “mistreating” undergraduates from Nepal. His statement follows allegations that KIIT had evicted a group of Nepali students from their hostel amid rising tensions on the campus following the tragic death of Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B Tech student.

In response to the allegations, the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) issued an apology for the incident, asserting that it had “never done any disservice to its students” reported NDTV.

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The post KIIT Suicide Case: Nepalese student’s harassment complaint ignored for 11 months before tragic suicide appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner, Suresh Dev Datta Singh, confirmed that a fellow student had been arrested in connection with Lamsal’s death. The accused, Advik Srivastava, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at KIIT, was taken into custody and subsequently remanded to judicial custody under charges of abetment of suicide.

Allegations of harassment and institutional apathy

According to the police investigation and complaints from Lamsal’s cousin, Siddhant Sigdel, she had been facing continuous harassment from Srivastava. The FIR states that she had formally reported his behaviour to the university’s International Relations Office (IRO), but authorities allegedly failed to take meaningful action beyond issuing a mere warning. Some reports suggest that Srivastava was blackmailing her, and an audio clip surfaced online in which a male voice—allegedly belonging to Srivastava—was heard abusing and harassing a female voice.

On the day of Lamsal’s death, Srivastava was reportedly detained outside Biju Patnaik International Airport while allegedly attempting to leave Bhubaneswar. A flight ticket in his name, scheduled for February 16, was found, leading to speculation that he was attempting to flee the city after the incident. The police have since seized Lamsal’s mobile phone and laptop for forensic examination.

A https://t.co/HB58fQ4pSt third-year student from Nepal at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, died by suicide in her hostel after enduring multiple instances of harassment and molestation from her ex-boyfriend, Advik Srivastava.

pic.twitter.com/HSL3NoOIas

— Lokesh Bag (@lokeshbag67) February 17, 2025

Student protests and institutional negligence

Following Lamsal’s death, the university campus saw an outpouring of grief and anger, with both Nepali and Indian students joining protests against the university authorities, accusing them of ignoring Lamsal’s earlier complaints. Hundreds of students gathered outside the college gates, demanding justice and accountability.

Instead of addressing the grievances of its students, KIIT chose to issue a sudden notice instructing all Nepali students to vacate the campus immediately. While the university claimed this was done to ensure their safety, multiple students have alleged that they were forcibly removed from their hostels and transported to the Cuttack railway station without any travel arrangements. Reports from The Hindu indicate that over 500 Nepali students were made to leave in university buses, many without confirmed train tickets. Some students claimed that hostel staff physically forced them to vacate their rooms and resorted to intimidation when they protested.

A callous administration’s response

KIIT’s administration has been widely criticised for its handling of the situation. Registrar Dr. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty attempted to downplay the incident, stating that Lamsal’s death was due to a “strained relationship” rather than prolonged harassment. This response was met with anger from students and critics, who viewed it as an attempt to dismiss the allegations against the accused and the university’s own role in ignoring Lamsal’s previous complaints.

The administration’s decision to evacuate Nepali students further exacerbated tensions. Instead of ensuring their protection or engaging in dialogue, the university effectively displaced its international students overnight. The abrupt eviction not only disrupted their education but also signalled that the university was more interested in damage control than addressing student concerns.

International attention and diplomatic intervention

The incident has garnered international attention, prompting Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, to intervene. He acknowledged the death of Lamsal and the alleged forced eviction of Nepali students, stating that the Nepalese government was addressing the matter through diplomatic channels. Two officers from the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi were dispatched to Bhubaneswar to counsel affected students and facilitate their safe return home if necessary.

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu also expressed condolences over Lamsal’s death and assured cooperation in ensuring justice. Following diplomatic discussions, KIIT publicly urged Nepali students to return to campus, promising that their academic activities would not be disrupted. However, this statement did little to quell the outrage, as students remained distrustful of the university’s commitment to their safety.

KIIT later issued a public appeal urging Nepali students who had already left or were considering leaving to return to campus and resume their classes. This followed a formal communique from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that its embassy in India had successfully requested KIIT to accommodate Nepali students and ensure an “independent and impartial” investigation into Prakriti Lamsal’s death.

In a statement quoted by The Hindu, KIIT assured that normal academic activities would soon resume and that Nepali students’ education would not be disrupted. “The students are encouraged to return to campus and will continue their academic activities without any disturbances,” the university stated.

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

Were Nepali students forcibly evicted?

KIIT claimed that Nepali students were sent home to prevent further unrest on campus. However, several students alleged they were forcibly removed from their hostels and transported to Cuttack Railway Station against their will.

A university official, speaking to PTI, confirmed that the police had sealed Lamsal’s hostel room and placed her body in the mortuary, awaiting the arrival of her family. Meanwhile, some students shared their distressing experiences, with one telling PTI, “We were asked to vacate our hostel rooms and were dropped at the railway station. We had exams scheduled for February 28…”

#WATCH | Odisha: A https://t.co/jHgpcuG1h1 third-year girl student from Nepal was found dead in KIIT University (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) hostel in Bhubaneswar on 16th February. As per a notice issued by the University, the institute is hence closed sine die… pic.twitter.com/vVfgY140up

— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2025

As per The Hindustan Times, the Nepali students alleged that they were forced to head for their homes without any travel arrangement. “No train tickets or any directions have been provided to us. We were just loaded up on the hostel buses, sent to Cuttack railway station and ordered to leave for our homes at the earliest. The staff members entered the hostel, made us vacate and even hit those who were not vacating quickly,” claimed a student from Nepal.

Lamsal’s tragic death and the subsequent handling of the case highlight systemic failures within KIIT’s administration. The university’s reluctance to act on complaints of harassment, its inadequate response to a student’s suicide, and the hasty eviction of international students suggest a lack of accountability and empathy. Rather than taking decisive steps to ensure student safety and justice, the institution prioritised its reputation, attempting to neutralise the situation through forced removals and public relations tactics.

This case raises broader concerns about how universities handle cases of harassment and abuse. It underscores the urgent need for stronger mechanisms to address complaints of harassment, provide mental health support, and hold institutions accountable for their inaction.

While the police investigation is ongoing, the role of KIIT in enabling a culture of impunity cannot be overlooked. Universities must be places where students feel safe and heard—not silenced or expelled when they demand justice. The handling of this case should serve as a wake-up call, not just for KIIT but for educational institutions across India, to prioritise student welfare over institutional reputation.

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