KIIT Vice Chancellor Apologizes, Removes 2 Officials After Protests Over Nepali Student’s Suicide and Eviction Order

In a significant development, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Vice Chancellor Prof Saranjit Singhissued a public apology on February 18, 2025, after a series of events sparked outrage among Nepali students at the institution. The controversy centers around the tragic death of a third-year BTech student from Nepal, who was found dead in her hostel room on February 16, 2025, and the subsequent handling of protests by her fellow Nepali students.

Details of the Apology and Actions Taken

Apology from KIIT’s Vice Chancellor

• Prof Singh expressed his deep regret over the way the incident and the protests were handled by the university.
• “We are extremely appalled by the untoward incident that took place on our campus on the evening of 16th February 2025. We are also regretful of the way some of us behaved towards the agitating students…” stated the Vice Chancellor in a letter shared on social media platform X.
• He condemned the irresponsible comments made by two officials during the protests, and announced their removal from service. “The comments made by two of our officers are extremely irresponsible. We have removed them from service,” he wrote.

Call for Resumption of Classes

• The Vice Chancellor also appealed to Nepali students to resume their academic activities, encouraging them to continue their studies without further disruption.

Disciplinary Action Against Officials

• The university took swift action by suspending two senior hostel officials and a senior administrative officer from the International Relations Office (IRO) pending an investigation.
• The Director of the Girls' Hostel and an Associate Professor of Computer Science were among the officials removed due to denigrating remarks made about Nepali students during the protests.
• These officials also issued a video apology for their comments.

The Death and Protests

The Incident

• KIIT Apologizes, Removes 2 Officials After Protests Over Nepali Student’s Suicide and Eviction OrderThe deceased student, a third-year BTech student, tragically took her own life after reportedly being harassed by a male student.
• The incident sparked widespread protests from Nepali students who demanded justice for their fellow student. They called for a high-level investigation into the suicide, citing the alleged harassment as the primary cause of her death.

University's Response and the Eviction Order

• Following the protests, KIIT's administration ordered the eviction of nearly 500 Nepali students from its hostels, escalating tensions on campus.
• Security personnel were deployed on the campus to manage the unrest, but this move only amplified the anger of the students.
• The protest intensified, with more than 100 Nepali students remaining on campus to demand further action and transparency regarding the investigation.

Political Reactions and Government Involvement

Nepal's Response

• The incident attracted attention from the Nepal government, with Prime Minister KP Oli announcing that two officials from the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi had been dispatched to Odisha to assist the protesting students.
• “The government is working through diplomatic channels and is in contact with the relevant authorities,” PM Oli stated in a post on X.

Police and Legal Actions

• The Bhubaneswar police detained the male student accused of harassing the victim. He is the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Lucknow. A case has been filed against him for abetting the suicide.
• The victim’s family has expressed confidence in the Odisha police and government, hoping for justice.
• Bhubaneswar's Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pinak Mishra, confirmed that two security personnel who were involved in the assault on protesting students have been arrested. An objective investigation is underway.

Political Fallout

• The incident also triggered a political debate in the Odisha Assembly, with opposition parties accusing the BJD-led state government of failing to maintain law and order.
• Pratap Deb, the BJD chief whip, criticized the BJP government for allowing the situation to escalate and tarnishing the state’s image.
• Congress MLA Tara Bahinipati has called for a judicial inquiry into the death of the Nepali student.
• In response, BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy condemned the incident but pointed out that the founder of KIIThad strong ties to the BJD, which he argued added a political dimension to the matter.

Tensions and University’s Statement

KIIT’s Clarification

• In a separate notice, KIIT clarified that it had scrapped the directive requiring Nepali students to leave the hostels. The university assured that all students, including Nepali nationals, would be treated with the utmost respect and security.

Ongoing Investigation

• The university and law enforcement agencies are committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigationinto the circumstances surrounding the student's death.
• KIIT has pledged to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of its students, particularly those from Nepal and other international backgrounds.

Source: THE HINDUSTAN