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
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee to investigate the death of a Nepali student inside the hostel premises of KIIT University and the allegations of use 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.
The university suspended five staff members, including security personnel. The police arrested five senior officials, including three directors of KIIT Deemed University.
“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 the university and stated that legal action will follow based on the probe’s findings.
According to reports, ‘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.
The university is yet to respond to allegations of unauthorised entry of individuals and has also issued an apology for its handling of the protests.
Tensions escalated after the body of 20-year-old Prakriti Lamsa, a BTech mechanical engineering student, was discovered in her hostel room on Monday. Suspecting foul play, Nepali 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 Nepali 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 Nepali 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.
