Tue Feb 18 11:02:37 UTC 2025: ## KIIT University Student’s Suicide Prompts Outrage Over Alleged Inaction by Authorities
**Bhubaneswar, Odisha** – The death of a 20-year-old Nepali engineering student at KIIT University has sparked outrage, with the victim’s father alleging the university’s inaction on his daughter’s harassment complaint may have contributed to her suicide. The student, a third-year student, was found dead on Sunday. A 21-year-old batchmate, Advik Srivastava from Lucknow, has been arrested and charged with blackmailing the deceased.
According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the victim’s cousin, the accused was allegedly blackmailing the student, leading her to take her own life. Protesting Nepali students claim the university’s International Relations Office (IRO) failed to act on the victim’s complaint regarding harassment by Srivastava.
KIIT University registrar Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty confirmed that the student had reported “misbehaviour” to the IRO. Mohanty stated that the IRO counselled both students and warned Srivastava, but no written record of the warning was kept.
The victim’s father, speaking to reporters, stated that his daughter appeared normal when they last spoke on Sunday afternoon. He only learned of the alleged harassment from media reports after being informed of her death by the university. He emphasized his desire for justice and prevention of similar incidents in the future.
The incident has raised serious questions about the university’s response to student complaints and the safety of students studying far from home. The father’s statement highlights the need for universities to implement robust mechanisms to address harassment complaints effectively and ensure student well-being.
First Piper 