MEA assures of thorough probe into Nepalese student’s death in Odisha varsity
Emphasising that India takes the safety and security of all international students “very seriously”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the death of the Nepalese girl student at KIIT University.
The 18-year-old student, identified as Prisa Sah, was currently in the first year of BTech (Computer Science) in Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University. Officials said they received an alleged suicide report around 8 pm on Thursday. The girl was earlier found dead in her hostel room.
The Nepal Government has also called for a thorough investigation into the case. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Prisa Sah, a Nepalese student at KIIT University in Odisha. I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family during this difficult time and pray for the eternal peace of her soul,” said Arzu Rana Deuba, Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, on X.
“Following the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly initiated diplomatic efforts to ascertain the truth. Senior officials have engaged with counterparts in the Government of India, the Government of Odisha and the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi to ensure a thorough investigation,” said Deuba.
UGC sets up fact-finding committee to look into suicides
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has set up a fact-finding committee to look into consecutive student suicides at KIIT-Bhubaneshwar, officials said on Friday.
The panel was constituted after a 20-year-old Nepalese student of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room.
The incident comes after the suicide of Prakriti Lamsal, another Nepalese student of the same institute on February 16.
Shankar P Sharma, Nepal’s Ambassador to India, reiterated the Nepalese Foreign Minister’s sentiments in a post on X.
In a statement, the MEA said that the ministry had been in constant touch with the Odisha Government since it came to know about the incident.
“The state government of Odisha has extended full support to the deceased’s family and a thorough enquiry is being conducted by the Odisha Police,” it added.
Notably, KIIT University recently came under scrutiny, following the suicide of another Nepalese girl in February.
On February 16, a 20-year-old Nepalese female student was found dead in her university hostel room. Subsequently, angry students began protesting on campus, demanding justice for her.
The protesters had alleged that the university had ignored complaints of harassment. When tensions escalated, the university had forcibly evicted more than 500 Nepalese students from the university.
India