KIIT Campus Tense After Nepal Student's Suicide, Claims of Forced Eviction

Tension escalates at KIIT after Nepal student Prakriti Lamsal’s suicide. Nepali students claim forced eviction from the campus following protests. Police investigate allegations of harassment and blackmail.

Tensions flared on the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, following the tragic suicide of a third-year Nepalese student, Prakriti Lamsal, on February 16, 2025. Lamsal, a BTech student, was found dead in her hostel room, prompting a protest by Nepali students who later claimed they were evicted from the campus under duress.

The situation began when Prakriti Lamsal’s death was confirmed as a suicide, with initial reports suggesting that she was allegedly being harassed by an ex-boyfriend. According to the student’s cousin, Lamsal had been blackmailed by a male student at the university, which is believed to have led her to take her own life. KIIT issued a statement confirming that Lamsal had been involved in a relationship with a fellow student, and authorities suspect this may have played a role in her death.

In response to the incident, the police have filed a case under the allegation of abetment to suicide against a male student, who is currently in police custody. The police are conducting a thorough investigation, including seizing Lamsal’s mobile phone, laptop, and other gadgets to examine any potential evidence of harassment or blackmail.

Protests and Forced Eviction

As news of Lamsal’s death spread, dozens of Nepali students gathered on the campus to protest, demanding justice for their fellow student. However, after the demonstration escalated, the university administration intervened, directing Nepali students to leave the campus immediately. A notice shared on social media instructed the students to vacate their hostels and leave the university by February 17, 2025.

As tensions mounted, many students, including Anil Prasad Yadav, a fellow Nepalese student, reported being forcibly evicted from the campus. Yadav told reporters at Cuttack Railway Station that he and others had been given only an hour to pack up and leave, with little assistance or provisions. “We went to the International Office and sat overnight on a dharna, but we were sent back. We did not have food, and now we are trying to get a ticket,” he said.

Another student, Rajan Gupta, claimed that the staff asked students to vacate the hostel aggressively, with some students reportedly being physically pushed. “They even hit those who were not packing quickly,” Gupta alleged.

Police and Government Response

In response to the escalating situation, local police forces were deployed both on and around the KIIT campus to maintain law and order. The authorities have sealed the room where Lamsal’s body was found and placed it in the mortuary until it can be handed over to her family.

The situation also caught the attention of Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who assured that his government was working through diplomatic channels to address the issue. Officials from Nepal are in touch with the relevant authorities in India to ensure proper handling of the matter.

While the KIIT campus has since calmed down, controversy continues to surround the alleged forced eviction of students. Other students from different states also claimed that they were prevented from leaving the hostel by private security guards. A video circulating on social media shows students clashing with guards, although the authenticity of the footage remains unverified. University officials have refrained from commenting on these allegations.

The case is still under investigation, and the authorities are working to clarify the circumstances surrounding Lamsal’s tragic death. Meanwhile, the university has appealed for calm, urging all students to return to campus and resume their academic activities.