Sentinel Digital Desk
A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B.Tech student from Nepal, was found dead in her hostel room on Sunday. Authorities initially suspected suicide, but allegations of blackmail surfaced, leading to an investigation.
Prakriti’s cousin filed a complaint claiming she was being blackmailed by another student, Advik Shrivastava. Reports suggest she faced both physical and verbal abuse. An audio file, which later went viral, revealed a man shouting expletives at a sobbing woman, further intensifying suspicions.
Following the complaint, Odisha Police arrested Advik Shrivastava, a 21-year-old B.Tech (Mechanical) student from Uttar Pradesh. He was charged with abetment of suicide after being detained near Bhubaneswar’s airport on Monday.
Prakriti’s death led to massive protests by Nepalese students at KIIT. They accused the university administration of ignoring her distress calls. The protests escalated as students demanded justice and accountability from the authorities.
Instead of addressing the students' concerns, KIIT University issued an order asking all Nepalese students to vacate the campus immediately. The administration cited security concerns and shut down the campus for international students indefinitely, leaving many stranded without proper travel arrangements.
As protests continued, security personnel and senior university officials allegedly used force against Nepalese students. Videos circulating online showed students being manhandled and subjected to verbal abuse, sparking further outrage.
In response to the violence, Odisha Police arrested six individuals, including three senior KIIT officials—Director General (HR) Sibananda Mishra, Director (Administration) Pratap Kumar Chamupaty, and Director of Hostels Sudhir Kumar Rath. Two security guards were also detained for their role in the crackdown.
Prakriti's body, after a post-mortem at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, has been handed over to her family. It will be flown to Nepal today.