Odisha: Five Individuals Detained, Including Three Directors of Private University, in Assault Case Involving Nepali Students
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Synopsis
Bhubaneswar Police in Odisha arrested five individuals, including three directors of KIIT University, in connection with the assault of Nepali students following a protest over the suicide of a female student from Nepal. The incident has prompted a government inquiry into the treatment of students from Nepal at the university.
Key Takeaways
- KIIT University directors and security guards arrested.
- Protest held by Nepali students for justice.
- Government inquiry established into student treatment.
- Student suicide linked to harassment issues.
- University staff terminated and suspended as a response.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 18 (NationPress) The Bhubaneswar Police in Odisha on Tuesday apprehended five individuals, including three directors of KIIT University, on allegations of assaulting students from Nepal following a demonstration regarding the suicide of a female student from the Himalayan nation.
The university's security personnel - Ramakanta Nayak (45) and Jogendra Behera (25) - were detained for their involvement in the assault against the Nepali students. Additionally, police took into custody KIIT University’s Director General (HR) Sibananda Mishra (59), Director (Admn) Pratap Kumar Chamupaty (51), and Director of Hostels Sudhir Kumar Rath (59) concerning the incident.
Reports indicate that following the tragic demise of a female student in a hostel at the private university on Sunday, students organized a protest against the university administration, demanding justice for the deceased.
Subsequently, the university administration instructed Nepali students to vacate the hostels, declaring sine die.
“On February 17, between 11 am and 12:20 pm, as the students were leaving the hostel and the university premises, the accused suddenly appeared and urged them to exit immediately. When they noticed the delay in evacuating the hostel, they became enraged, verbally abused the students, and physically assaulted them,” stated a senior police official on Tuesday.
The Odisha government announced the formation of a high-level fact-finding committee on Tuesday to investigate the alleged mistreatment of other students from Nepal by the authorities at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar.
Notably, the deceased, Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B.Tech (Computer Science) student at KIIT University, ended her life on Sunday after facing harassment from her former boyfriend, Advik Shrivastava, a B.Tech (Mechanical) student.
Police apprehended the accused at Bhubaneswar Airport while he attempted to flee the city on Monday. The father of the deceased student demanded justice for his daughter on Tuesday.
Prakriti’s father Sunil Lamsal, who arrived in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, expressed confidence in the Odisha government and police administration to deliver justice.
In response to the incident, KIIT University expressed deep remorse and has terminated two security guards while suspending three senior staff members.
“The authorities and staff at KIIT are profoundly saddened by the events of February 16. Two security personnel were immediately terminated, and two senior hostel officials along with one senior administrative officer from the International Relations Office (IRO) were suspended pending a comprehensive inquiry. The staff is actively encouraging students to return to campus promptly,” stated the university registrar on Tuesday.
