Embassy assures students and family of a thorough probe into the death of Prakriti Lamsal and urges Nepali students to return to campus
The Indian Embassy in Nepal has pledged a comprehensive investigation into the tragic death of Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B Tech student at Odisha's Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), who allegedly died by suicide at her hostel on Sunday. The embassy also appealed to Nepali students at KIIT to return to campus and resume their academic activities, amid rising protests triggered by the incident.
Prakriti Lamsal, originally from Nepal, was found dead in her hostel room at KIIT in Bhubaneswar, where she had been studying. The news of her death sparked outrage among students, particularly within the Nepali student community at KIIT, which comprises about 1,000 students. The campus saw a wave of protests as students gathered, shouting slogans, blocking roads, and even pushing through the gates of buildings in anger over the incident.
In response to the protests, a male student has been taken into custody, though details about his involvement have not been disclosed. The death has also led to demonstrations outside the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, where a group of Nepali students displayed placards calling for a full investigation into Lamsal's death and demanding justice for their fellow student.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu issued a statement, assuring the public that the matter would be investigated thoroughly. "The Government of India will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of the Nepali students in India," the embassy said. They also confirmed that KIIT had made an official appeal to the Nepali student community, urging them to return to the campus, resume classes, and stay in the hostels.
The embassy’s statement emphasized the importance of the strong people-to-people ties between India and Nepal, with Nepali students being an integral part of this enduring relationship. The diplomatic mission assured both students and their families that they would closely monitor the situation and work with local authorities to ensure a fair investigation into the cause of Lamsal's death.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lamsal’s death is ongoing, and authorities are seeking to determine whether it was indeed a case of suicide, as initially believed. The incident has raised concerns among the Nepali student community, who are calling for greater attention to student welfare and safety.
