(Hindustan Times): The vice chancellor of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, Prof. Saranjit Singh, expressed regret to Nepali students for the way the school handled the death of a third-year BTech student from Nepal. He announced the dismissal of two officials for their insulting remarks during the event.
He apologized and posted it on social media after receiving a lot of criticism for how the university handled students who were demonstrating against the student's death. The college initially ordered around 500 Nepali students to vacate their rooms.
Prof. Singh expressed regret about the unfortunate event that occurred on February 16, 2025. He further admitted the mistakes that were made by the university. He assured that the officials had been sacked and admitted that some of their remarks were incredibly irresponsible. He expressed his regret and promised the university's support to Nepali students.
In his statement, he called on Nepali students to resume their studies. Still, more than 100 students persisted in their demonstration, calling for a high-level inquiry into the student's murder.
Letter of Apology from the Vice-Chancellor, KIIT-DU
KIIT declared that authorities and security staff connected to the case would face disciplinary action. An International Relations Office officer and two senior hostel administrators were placed on leave while an investigation was conducted.
An associate professor of computer science and the director of the ladies' dormitory were dismissed for their derogatory comments about Nepali pupils. They later sent a video message apologizing for their comments.
After the third-year BTech student was discovered dead in her dorm room, tensions increased. According to the authorities, she committed suicide after being harassed by a male student.
The argument boiled up as KIIT attempted to stop the protesters. In response, Nepali Prime Minister KP Oli dispatched two officials from the Nepali embassy in New Delhi to Odisha to assist the affected students. He assured them that the government was working on diplomatic initiatives and in communication with Indian officials.
The male student involved in the harassment of the victim has been arrested, informed Pinak Mishra, Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police. After it was learned that the student happened to be the son of a Lucknow-based leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he was slapped with the charge of abetment to suicide.
The accused allegedly mistreated and emotionally blackmailed their daughter, according to the victim's family, who came to Odisha to retrieve her body. In spite of their sorrow, they said they had faith in the Odisha police and government and hoped for justice.
The victim's father demanded a safe atmosphere for all university students and urged that no other Nepali student should have to endure a similar tragedy.
Nepali students reported that when they gathered to protest on campus, security guards forcibly removed them from their hostels and attempted to disperse them. The situation escalated, leading to clashes.
Two security guards were detained by the Bhubaneswar police for attacking students who were protesting. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to guaranteeing the safety of all students, including those from Nepal, and promised that a fair and unbiased investigation was in progress. Additionally, KIIT revoked its order to expel Nepali students.
The Odisha state assembly's ruling BJP government was chastised by the opposition. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress accused the administration of failing to maintain peace and order. The BJD chief, Pratap Deb, claimed that the incident had hurt Odisha's reputation overseas.
While BJP politician Tankadhar Tripathy denounced the event but shifted the blame to the opposing party by pointing out that KIIT was founded by a former BJD MP, Congress MLA Tara Bahinipati demanded a judicial investigation into the affair.
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