Another Nepali girl student of KIIT University found dead in hostel

A tragic incident unfolded at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar as another girl student from Nepal was allegedly found dead on campus. 

The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner, S. Dev Datta Singh, informed about the incident. The dead body was reportedly recovered in one of the girls' hostels of the varsity. The body of the deceased was reportedly found hanging in the hostel room. It has been learned that the deceased was a B-Tech 1st year student of the University. The victim has been identified as Prisha Saha from Birgunj in Nepal. 

As per sources, the Infocity Police is probing the incident at the spot.

Soon after the incident, the Police Commissioner, Bhubaneswar DCP, and the Additional District Collector of Khordha reached the spot.  

As of yet, the university has not issued any official statement regarding the event.

Unnatural Death case registered: Police 

Commenting on the incident, Police Commissioner, S Dev Datta Singh said, “Today evening at around 7 PM, when attendance was being taken, the concerned student, who was alone in the room, did not respond. Then, upon checking, she was found hanging. Then we were informed. We are conducting an investigation. A scientific team has also reached the spot, and the victim’s room is being searched. The victim's friends are also present, and they are cooperating. Prima facie, no note has been found in the immediate surroundings of the dead body. However, the scientific team is conducting a search. An unnatural death case has been registered as no complaint has been received.” 

Two Deaths in a Matter of Months

On 16 February 2025 (Sunday), 20-year-old Nepali B.Tech student Prakriti Lamsal was found dead in her hostel at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. The third-year computer science student's death was initially investigated as suicide, with police detaining a 21-year-old male mechanical engineering student from the same institution. The case triggered immediate protests from Nepali students and diplomatic intervention.

Institutional response

KIIT administration labeled the incident as stemming from a 'personal dispute' and stated the accused had been apprehended. Registrar Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty suggested relationship issues as the cause. The Odisha Higher Education Department subsequently summoned KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta for questioning as investigations intensified. University staff reportedly evacuated over 500 Nepali students from campus during protests.

Aftermath and protests

Mass demonstrations erupted on campus, with Nepali students blocking roads and vandalising property. Protesters accused KIIT of negligence, claiming administrators ignored harassment reports. The varsity's decision to send Nepali students to Cuttack railway station by bus intensified tensions. An FIR was filed under abetment to suicide charges while authorities awaited post-mortem results.

Diplomatic fallout

Nepal's government threatened to halt No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for students pursuing Indian education unless the matter was resolved 'justifiably'. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli deployed embassy officials from Delhi to assist students and coordinate with Indian authorities. The case highlighted systemic concerns about Nepali students' safety in Indian institutions.

Harassment allegations

Protesting students revealed Prakriti Lamsal had repeatedly reported physical and verbal abuse by the detained student to university authorities, including the International Relations Office. An explosive audio clip circulated online, allegedly captured the accused making derogatory remarks about Lamsal and her mother. Despite these complaints, students claim the administration failed to intervene effectively.