Odisha CM assures justice in KIIT student’s death case, urges Nepalese students to return

Bhubaneswar, Feb 19: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday assured Nepalese officials that justice will be served in the alleged suicide case of 20-year-old engineering student Prakriti Lamsal from KIIT University. His assurance came as Nepali counselors visited Odisha following the incident that sparked concerns among students from the Himalayan nation.

The CM, currently in Rajasthan, spoke over the phone with Nepali officials Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Raj Adhikari, who met Odisha Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja at the State Guest House to discuss the ongoing situation. He urged Nepali students at KIIT to resume their studies, assuring that peace and normalcy would be restored soon.

A post from the CM’s official X handle also mentioned that Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj had spoken with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deoba regarding the matter.

This development comes amid reports that the Nepalese government is considering restricting No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for students wishing to study in Odisha if the case is not resolved legally and fairly.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Embassy in India stated that Ambassador Shankar P. Sharma had spoken with KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta and met his representatives in New Delhi. Samanta reportedly informed him about the institute’s actions, including a public apology from the vice-chancellor and the termination of staff involved in the controversy.