NEW DELHI: Following the death of a Nepali student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, her father, Sunil Lamsal, claimed she was subjected to harassment and emotional blackmail, which led to her suicide.
“We just know that an investigation is being conducted. The post-mortem report will come soon. We have information that she was harassed and emotionally blackmailed, which led to her suicide,” Lamsal said.
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He also mentioned that he had spoken with the university officials, but they did not provide any additional information. “Yesterday, we had a conversation with the university officials. They did not say anything, but the police and college administration are cooperating,” he added.
Lamsal shared that his family learned about the incident from his son, the deceased girl’s brother, on February 16. He also stated that the individual arrested in connection with the case is “the reason behind this.”
“Her brother is also studying here, and he informed us about the incident the day before yesterday. One person has been arrested, and I believe he is the reason behind all of this. Her phone, laptop, and diary have been given to the forensic department. The police administration and the government are helping us,” Sunil Lamsal said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the situation, Lamsal said he was troubled by reports that some students had been asked to vacate the campus. “I heard that the students are being asked to leave, and this is not right. We demand justice and nothing else,” he stated.
“I have lost my daughter. Many other children are studying here. It is known from the media that some students were driven out of their hostel. This is not right. This incident should not be repeated. These people go to Nepal and invite students to study here. The institute mistreated them,” Lamsal alleged.
He, however, reposed faith in the Odisha government and the police to get justice over the death of her daughter.
“I have sent my daughter here for higher studies. We hope that the government will ensure justice. We have faith in the government and the police administration here. We hope to get justice,” Lamsal said.
Protest by students
The incident prompted the student wing of the Nepali Congress party to organize a protest in Kathmandu, demanding justice for the deceased student.
On February 17, KIIT issued a notice directing Nepali students to vacate the campus immediately following the discovery of the student’s body in the university hostel.
The notice read: “The college was closed sine die for all international students from Nepal.” However, later the same day, the university urged students to return and resume their academic activities.
“There was an unfortunate incident which took place late in the evening yesterday on the KIIT campus. Immediately after the incident, the police investigated the matter and apprehended the culprit. The KIIT administration has taken all-out efforts to restore normalcy on the campus and in the hostels to resume academic activities,” the statement said.
The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police arrested a student of the institution in connection with the case. Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh confirmed the incident, stating that authorities were alerted to the suicide of a third-year Computer Science student.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, remarked on Monday that his government had taken note of the incident and is addressing it with India through diplomatic channels.
High-level fact finding panel set up
Meanwhile, the Odisha government on Tuesday constituted a high-level fact-finding committee consisting of the additional chief secretary of the home department, the principal secretary, the women and child development department, and the commissioner-cum-secretary, the higher education department, in connection with the death of the engineering student.
As per the official notice, the institution has been placed under notice, and appropriate legal and administrative action shall follow based on the findings of the High Level Fact Finding Committee constituted by the Government.
“The Committee consists of the Addl. Chief Secretary, Home Department, Principal Secretary, Women & Child Development Department and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Higher Education Department as members,” it reads.
“Reports of misconduct, including the use of force against students by private individuals, are being investigated, and those responsible shall be held accountable as per the law,” the notice further reads.
Meanwhile, the tragic incident has sparked widespread outrage among students, who are now demanding justice and transparency from the college administration.
The protesting students are now demanding an independent student body that can protect their rights and interests. They also expressed their apprehensions about the safety of their fellow students.
(With inputs from agencies)