Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: More than 500 Nepali students studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, the capital of India’s Odisha state, have been ordered to leave the university.
This directive came after Prakriti Lamsal, a student from Butwal pursuing a BTech degree, committed ‘suicide’ on Sunday. Following the incident, the college administration ordered all Nepali students to vacate the university premises.
“The university is closed Sine Die for all the International students from Nepal. They are hereby directed to vacate the university campus immediately today on 17th February 2025,” reads the notice issued by the Office of the Registrar, KIIT.
Odisha TV reported that just hours after Lamsal’ was found dead, the university administration instructed Nepali students to leave the campus. The Nepali students were then transported by university buses to Cuttack railway station and instructed to return home.
This sudden decision by the university has left Nepali students in a state of confusion. Odisha TV reported that the students are facing additional challenges as they have been forced to return home without any arrangements for travel tickets or accommodation. “We were not provided with any train tickets or clear instructions. They put us on buses to Cuttack and told us to go home immediately,” a Nepali student was quoted as saying by Odisha TV.
It has been reported that Lamsal, a third-year BTech student, took her own life after being unable to endure the continuous harassment by an Indian student, Advik Srivastava. Lamsal, who was under severe mental stress, had sought help from the university’s International Relations Department. However, after failing to receive any support, she succumbed to the mental pressure, leading to her tragic decision, according to fellow students.
In a phone recording believed to be between the two, Srivastava can be heard verbally abusing the female victim with demeaning language, while the victim can be heard crying throughout the call.
Meanwhile, Odisha Police has arrested Srivastava from the airport while he was preparing to leave for Kolkata.
