KIIT Odisha Faces Protests After Nepali Student’s Death, Over 500 Students Sent Home

The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar witnessed major protests after the tragic death of a 20-year-old Nepali engineering student, who was found deceased in her hostel room on Sunday evening. The student, enrolled in the B.Tech Computer Science program, is suspected to have died by suicide, according to initial police findings.

Authorities have detained a male batchmate in connection with the case and have filed an FIR under abetment to suicide. Police have begun questioning him and are conducting a thorough investigation. Following the discovery, a police team visited the hostel, and the student’s body was sent for post-mortem at Capital Hospital before being handed over to her family.

In response to the incident, a large group of Nepali students staged protests outside the KIIT campus, blocking roads and demanding accountability from the university. Protesters alleged that the university failed to act when the deceased student had previously complained to the International Relations Office about harassment from her batchmate.

However, KIIT registrar Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty refuted these claims, suggesting that the student’s decision was linked to personal relationship issues rather than negligence by the university. In an official statement, KIIT stated that the police were immediately informed, and a male student, reportedly in a relationship with the deceased, was taken into custody for questioning. The university claimed the incident likely stemmed from a personal dispute between the two students.

Amid rising tensions, police forces were deployed to restore order on the campus. In a sudden move, KIIT declared a “sine die” (indefinite closure) for all Nepali international students and instructed over 500 of them to vacate the campus on Monday. The university arranged buses to transport the students to various railway stations, from where they were directed to return home.

KIIT later stated that concerns among Nepali students were discussed with the administration, leading to their departure from the campus. The situation has since stabilized, and a police investigation is ongoing to uncover the exact circumstances behind the incident.