5 persons, including 3 top officials, arrested
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has constituted a high-level fact-finding committee to investigate the death of a Nepalese student inside the hostel premises of KIIT University, as well as allegations of excessive force by university security personnel.
According to an official statement, the committee will be chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the home department, with members from the women and child development and higher education departments.
“In light of the recent unfortunate incident at KIIT University, the Government of Odisha has taken immediate cognizance. Security guards involved have been arrested, and erring officials suspended,” the notice stated. The government has also issued a warning to KIIT University, stating that legal action will follow based on the probe’s findings.
Reports indicate that ‘private individuals’ allegedly used force against hostel inmates and students. An audio clip aired by electronic media revealed a student claiming that local goons entered the hostel, coercing students to delete photos and videos related to the incident and ensuing protests.
KIIT University has yet to respond to allegations of unauthorized individuals entering its premises, though it has apologized for its handling of the protests. It has suspended five staff members, including security personnel. Meanwhile, police arrested five senior officials, including three directors of KIIT Deemed University.
Tensions escalated after the body of 20-year-old Prakriti Lamsa, a B.Tech mechanical engineering student, was discovered in her hostel room on Monday. Suspecting foul play, Nepalese students staged protests.
In response, Nepal’s Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli dispatched two embassy officers from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar to address the crisis. On his X handle, Oli stated, “Our Embassy in New Delhi has sent officers to counsel Nepali students in Odisha. Arrangements have been made for them to stay in their hostel or return home as per their choice.”
The situation worsened when protesting Nepalese students were allegedly forced to vacate their hostels and taken to Cuttack railway station, where they were instructed to board trains home. Viral video clips purportedly showed security guards assaulting Nepalese students and female faculty members mistreating them, prompting Nepal’s Prime Minister to demand justice from Indian authorities.
Police have taken Advik Srivastav, a male acquaintance of Prakriti, into custody on charges of harassment and blackmail. Bhubaneswar Commissioner of Police S. Devdutta Singh assured Prakriti’s family that justice would be served and that any officials found guilty would face legal consequences.
Prakriti’s body was sent to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for a post-mortem examination. Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj stated, “Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assured appropriate action against those responsible for the student’s death and anyone found guilty of misconduct against Nepalese students.”
The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the truth behind the tragic incident and the subsequent unrest at KIIT University.
