MEA expresses ‘deep sadness’ over incident at KIIT Deemed University in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed deep sorrow over the death of a Nepalese student at KIIT Deemed University in Odisha during its weekly media briefing on Friday. The MEA emphasized that the Government of India places utmost importance on the safety, security, and well-being of all international students in the country.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the ministry has been in close communication with the Odisha government and the authorities at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT Deemed University) since the incident came to light.

“We have also maintained continuous contact with the Nepalese authorities,” Jaiswal added. According to the spokesperson, the Odisha Police has made several arrests related to the case.

On Thursday, the Odisha police arrested five more staff members of KIIT Deemed University for allegedly assaulting Nepalese students while they were vacating the hostel, following an order from the university administration. To date, a total of 11 individuals have been arrested, including an engineering student accused of abetting the suicide of a 20-year-old Nepalese woman in her hostel room. Her death triggered protests from Nepalese students demanding justice.

KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta appeared before a high-level committee to clarify the circumstances under which the university declared sine die and required Nepalese students to leave the campus following the student’s death on the night of February 16.

In response to the incident, senior officials from the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi visited the KIIT campus on Wednesday. They met with students from Nepal and assured them that measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.