Lagatar24 Desk
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday urged Nepalese students of KIIT to return to the campus and resume studies, assuring them that peace and normalcy would be restored soon.
The appeal comes after KIIT authorities issued suspension notices to around 1,000 Nepalese students on Monday, following protests over the mysterious death of Prakriti Lamsal, a student from Nepal, who was found hanging in her hostel room on Sunday.
Government Intervention and Apology from KIIT
After intervention from the Centre and Odisha government, KIIT authorities tendered an apology and requested the students to return. Chief Minister Majhi, currently in Rajasthan, discussed the situation over the phone with Nepali officials Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Raj Adhikari, who met with Odisha Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja to review the evolving crisis.
“The Chief Minister assured them that justice will be served in the case of Prakriti Lamsal, and the situation at KIIT will return to normal soon,” the CMO stated.
Additionally, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba also spoke with Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj regarding the issue.
Taking to X, the Odisha CMO posted:
“Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi spoke with Nepali Counsellors Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Raj Adhikari, assuring them that justice will be served in the case of the deceased KIIT student, Prakriti. He also assured that peace and normalcy would be restored on the KIIT campus. The CM urged Nepali students to return to campus and resume their studies…”
Nepal PM’s Statement & Student Allegations
Earlier, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli addressed the matter on X, stating:
“Our Embassy in New Delhi has dispatched two officers to counsel Nepali students affected in Odisha. Additionally, arrangements have been made to ensure they have the option to either remain in the hostel or return home, based on their preference.”
Meanwhile, Nepalese students of KIIT have accused authorities of mistreatment, claiming they were:
✔ Forced to vacate the hostel and left at Cuttack Railway Station.
✔ Physically assaulted and threatened, leaving many fearful of returning to the campus.
The Odisha government has assured that strict action will be taken if any student was wrongfully targeted.
