Activists take out a candlelight march in protest over the death of a Nepali student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) campus, in Bhubaneswar, on February 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Concerned over the whereabouts of Nepali students forced out of campus, the Mohan Majhi government on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) directed Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), a Deemed-to-be University, to deploy officials to trace them, provide counselling to those traumatised, and facilitate their return.
Tensions had erupted on the KIIT campus after the alleged suicide by a Nepali girl student over strained relationship with her classmate. The mass eviction of Nepali students further escalated the chaos.
Besides, a high level committee under chairmanship of Home Secretary has been instituted to ascertain the circumstances leading to the alleged suicide, to investigate the alleged highhanded action by university authorities, the reasons for issuing notice only to specific group of students, and closing the institute sine the for them.
“Our concern is the circumstances under which the institute declared sine the and why this decision specifically targeted Nepali students. Why were Nepali students dropped off at Cuttack Railway Station? This issue is not limited to the private university alone, as the incident occurred outside the campus and also involves a foreign country. Why was the Higher Education Department not consulted?” Suryabanshi Suraj, State Higher Education Minister, said.
Mr. Suraj said the university informed the State government that some of the officials were placed under suspension for their highhandedness.
“By 4 p.m. on Tuesday, reports confirmed that 100 Nepali students had returned to campus, while 800 others remained scattered in Odisha and outside the State, with some en route to Nepal by bus. KIIT authorities have been directed to counsel the traumatised students and facilitate their return to resume their academic pursuits. They have also been instructed to provide hourly updates on the situation,” Mr. Suraj said.
The Minister further warned that the University cannot adopt a revengeful approach towards students who participated in the agitation.
Students on condition of anonymity said many Nepali students had to board general compartment as most of them did not have train tickets. Throughout the journey, Nepali students called their Indian counterparts here narrating the ordeal.
The strong action of the State government followed even after KIIT issued an apology over the incident. “We are also regretful of the way some of us behaved with the agitating students. We love our students and had never done a, disservice to them. The comments made by two of our officers are extremely irresponsible,” the institute’s statement said.
It further said, “though the comments are made on their personal capacity on the spur of the moment, we do not support their action. We have removed them from service. They too have apologized for their behaviour. We too apologise for all that has happened and hereby tender our love and affection to all the students and people of Nepal.”
As Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli sent two Nepal Embassy officials reacting to targeted traumatising of Nepali students, the institute said, we love them as much as we love the people of India and the people of the world. Additionally, we are again appealing our Nepali students to join the regular academics with immediate effect.”
The university authorities’ statement, which went viral, claimed that “the amount spent by the university on students’ welfare exceeded Nepal’s national budget.” This remark further fueled anger among Nepali citizens.
The issue triggered uproar in Odisha Assembly, budget session of which is underway. Members demanded arrest of Achyut Samant, founder of KIIT and disciplinary action against the institute for assault on foreign students.
Meanwhile, father of deceased who came to collect the body said, “We have lost our child, but the same should not happen to other parents.”
Published – February 18, 2025 08:04 pm IST
