February 19th 2025.
In light of recent events, Hon'ble Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of Odisha has reached out to Nepali students studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar. He has urged them to return to campus and resume their studies, ensuring them that peace and normalcy will be restored soon. This comes after around 1,000 Nepali students were allegedly issued suspension notices and asked to leave the campus immediately by institute authorities on Monday. This was due to protests that erupted after the tragic death of a student from Nepal, Prakriti Lamsal, whose body was found hanging in her hostel room on Sunday.
Fortunately, the intervention of the Centre and state government has led to the KIIT authorities issuing an apology and requesting the Nepali students to come back to campus. Hon'ble Chief Minister Majhi was also in contact with officials from Nepal - Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Raj Adhikari - who held a meeting with Odisha's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, along with Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, to discuss the evolving situation.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, Majhi reassured the Nepali students that justice will be served in the case of Prakriti Lamsal and urged them to return to campus and resume their studies. In addition, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba also spoke with Odisha's Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj regarding the issue.
In an update from the Odisha CMO, it was stated that Hon'ble Chief Minister Majhi had spoken with Nepali counsellors Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Raj Adhikari, ensuring them that justice will be served for Prakriti's death and that peace and normalcy will be restored on the KIIT campus. He also urged the Nepali students to return to campus and continue their studies.
Earlier this week, Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli also addressed the situation in a post on X, stating that the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has sent two officers to counsel the affected students in Odisha. Arrangements have also been made for the students to either stay in their hostel or return home, depending on their preference.
The Nepali students at KIIT have faced distressing experiences following the protests over Prakriti's death. This includes being forced to leave the campus and being stranded at Cuttack railway station, as well as facing physical violence. This has left many of them traumatized and afraid to return to campus.
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