Tue Feb 18 05:39:23 UTC 2025: ## KIIT Student Death Sparks Protests, Arrest Made
**Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India** – A 20-year-old Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, sparking protests and the arrest of a fellow student.
Police have arrested Advik Srivastava, a third-year mechanical engineering student, on charges of abetting Lamsal’s suicide. Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh stated that the investigation revealed evidence suggesting Srivastava harassed Lamsal, leading to her taking her own life. Lamsal’s cousin further alleged blackmail played a role in her death. She reportedly had previously reported the harassment to the university’s International Relations Office, but students claim no action was taken.
Following the incident, Nepali and Indian students protested on campus, demanding justice. The protests resulted in road blockages near the campus before police intervention restored calm. In response to the incident, KIIT indefinitely suspended classes and examinations for all international students from Nepal, ordering them to vacate the campus. While the university claims this was for the students’ safety, some Nepali students allege they were forcibly removed and transported to railway stations—a claim KIIT denies.
Police have seized Lamsal’s phone for forensic analysis. The university maintains that the campus has returned to normal. However, the incident has highlighted concerns about student safety and the handling of harassment complaints within the institution.
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