Members of Navnirman Yuva Chatra Sangh (NYCS) with other students stage a protest over the death of a Nepali student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) campus, in Bhubaneswar, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Photo: PTI Members of Navnirman Yuva Chatra Sangh (NYCS) with other students stage a protest over the death of a Nepali student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) campus, in Bhubaneswar, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Photo: PTI

The Nepal government has issued a stern warning regarding the issuing of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to students intending to study at educational institutions in Odisha, particularly in light of the recent tragedy involving the death of a Nepali student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar.

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On Sunday afternoon, Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old third-year B Tech student from Nepal, tragically died by suicide in her hostel room at KIIT. Her death has sparked widespread unrest on the university campus, with students protesting the circumstances surrounding her passing. Adding to the controversy, KIIT authorities reportedly evicted several Nepali students from the hostel and dropped them off at the Cuttack railway station without any travel arrangements.

In response, Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli addressed the situation through social media on Monday. He expressed his concern over the treatment of Nepali students and confirmed that the government was working through diplomatic channels to resolve the matter. Oli also announced that officers from the Nepali embassy in New Delhi had been dispatched to provide counselling to the affected students and ensure their safe return or continued stay at the hostel.

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The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in Nepal released a statement on Tuesday warning that it may suspend the issuance of NOCs to students wishing to study in Odisha if the situation is not resolved in a “justifiable and legal way.” The ministry also urged patience from the students, guardians, and others involved, while reassuring the public that efforts were ongoing to ensure a safe and conducive environment for Nepali students to continue their education in India.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep condolences over the tragic death of Prakriti Lamsal and conveyed support to her grieving family. The ministry confirmed that the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi was in constant communication with the Odisha government and KIIT authorities to address the issues arising from the incident. It was also revealed that a person linked to Lamsal’s death had been arrested, and the Odisha police are investigating the matter thoroughly. KIIT has issued an apology for its mistreatment of Nepali students, taken action against those responsible, and assured that the students could return to their hostels and resume their studies.

On the ground, Nepalese lawmakers raised the issue in Nepal’s House of Representatives, urging the government to push for a serious inquiry into the student's death. Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba assured the parliament that two senior police officers from the Nepalese embassy had arrived at KIIT to assess the situation and ensure the safety of the Nepali students.

Protests also erupted in Kathmandu, as members of student unions associated with both the ruling Nepali Congress and the opposition CPN-Maoist Centre condemned the treatment of Nepali students at KIIT. They demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the death and called for accountability from the college administration.

Meanwhile, Odisha Police completed the post-mortem of Prakriti Lamsal’s body at AIIMS Bhubaneswarubet63, and it was handed over to her father, Sunil Lamsal, who arrived in Bhubaneswar to accompany the body. The family plans to take Prakriti’s remains back to Nepal for her final rites.