KIIT University Controversy: Why Students Are Protesting At Campus
A day of intense protests at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha culminated in police arresting a third-year student in connection with the suicide of a 20-year-old batchmate. The incident led to intervention by the Nepal Embassy and even drew attention from Nepal’s Prime Minister.
Police identified the victim as a Nepalese national and the accused as 21-year-old Advik Srivastava from Lucknow. The situation escalated when around 500 Nepalese students staged protests, blocking the main road leading to the university. In response, the administration attempted to send them back home—a decision that only fueled tensions and was eventually revoked after diplomatic intervention.
The university reversed its stance after the Nepal Embassy got involved, and Nepalese Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli dispatched two officials to the scene.
Arrest and Investigation
Police reported that the victim, a B.Tech computer science student, was found dead in her hostel room. The accused was detained near the airport on Sunday evening and booked under Section 108 of the BNS (abetment of suicide).
In the early hours of Sunday evening, Siddhant Sigdel reported that his cousin had committed suicide in her hostel room. As requested by the agitating students, our team immediately visited the scene, seized the body, and collected her laptop and phone,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra.
The victim’s family has since arrived in Bhubaneswar to claim her body following the post-mortem examination.
According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that the accused was blackmailing his cousin, which may have driven her to take this extreme step.
Protests and University Response
On Sunday night, angered students from Nepal blocked the road near KIIT, accusing the university of inaction despite the victim having reported harassment by her batchmate to the International Relations Office (IRO).
KIIT Registrar Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty confirmed that the victim had filed a complaint about the accused’s “misbehavior” with the IRO. “The IRO officials called both students, counseled them, and warned the accused not to repeat such behavior,” he told The Indian Express, adding that there was no written record of this warning.
Earlier, Mohanty stated that the victim’s death was linked to a “strained relationship” with the accused and that the two had been in a relationship, as claimed by the university in a statement.
As protests intensified, KIIT announced a “sine die” closure for all Nepalese students, ordering them to vacate the campus immediately. Over 500 students were transported to various railway stations and instructed to return home.
However, following intervention from the Nepal Embassy and direct concern from Nepal’s Prime Minister, the university revoked its decision, allowing students to remain on campus. Sources indicated that the state government also advised the university to let the students stay.
Official Statements
To restore calm, KIIT issued a statement urging Nepalese students who had left or planned to leave to return and resume their academic activities.
The Nepal Embassy in New Delhi confirmed it had contacted the university administration to ensure the safety of Nepalese students. ” The institution has assured Nepalese students that they will be able to stay in the hostel,” the embassy stated.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nepal’s Prime Minister said that the embassy had dispatched two officers to counsel the students. He assured that arrangements had been made to let students either remain on campus or return home, based on their preference.
Final Words
The tragic incident at KIIT University has sparked significant unrest, highlighting concerns about student safety and university accountability. The swift intervention by the Nepal Embassy and Nepal’s Prime Minister ensured that the affected students were heard and that immediate corrective measures were taken. The university’s initial response—forcing Nepalese students to leave—only escalated tensions, but the administration ultimately backtracked under pressure.
As investigations continue, this case underscores the importance of clear policies for addressing student grievances, stronger support systems, and the role of diplomatic channels in safeguarding international students. Moving forward, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students remains a crucial priority for educational institutions.
