Tue Feb 18 18:07:47 UTC 2025: **Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Six Arrested in Nepali Student’s Death at KIIT Hostel**
BHUBANESWAR, Odisha – Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the death of a Nepali student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) hostel in Bhubaneswar. The arrests include the student’s Indian classmate, three KIIT directors, and two security guards.
The body of 21-year-old B.Tech third-year student, Prakriti Lamasal, was found in her hostel room on the evening of February 16th. While initially reported as a suicide, fellow international students protested, alleging harassment by the arrested Indian classmate, reportedly her boyfriend. They claimed the university failed to act on prior complaints and attempted to cover up the incident.
Following a complaint filed by the deceased student’s cousin, police arrested the classmate and charged him with abetment to suicide. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on allegations of harassment and potential university negligence. A high-level fact-finding committee has been formed by the Odisha government to investigate the matter.
The deceased’s father, Sunil Lamasal, stated that his daughter was emotionally blackmailed and harassed. He expressed confidence in the ongoing police investigation, emphasizing that he seeks justice. A viral audio recording, allegedly a conversation between Prakriti and her classmate, appears to corroborate claims of harassment. Social media also contains unsubstantiated allegations of murder and a cover-up by the university.
Following student protests, Nepali students allege they were forcibly removed from the campus. KIIT claims this was due to escalating tensions but later appealed to them to return. Two security staff have been dismissed, and three administrators have been suspended pending the investigation’s completion. The Odisha government has indicated that legal and administrative action will be taken based on the fact-finding committee’s report. The investigation continues to unravel the circumstances surrounding Prakriti Lamasal’s death. The separate case of a mother and aunt murdering and dismembering their son in Andhra Pradesh is also noted in the original text but is unrelated to the KIIT incident.
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