Nepal Lawmakers Demand Ban On Student Enrollment At KIIT After Two Suspicious Deaths

Nepal Lawmakers Urge Ban on Sending Students to KIIT Amid Safety Concerns

Members of Nepal’s National Assembly have urged the government to immediately halt the issuance of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to students seeking admission at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India. The call comes in the wake of two suspicious deaths involving Nepali female students at the university within a span of just three months.

During an emergency session of the upper house, lawmakers expressed deep concern over the safety and security of Nepali students studying at KIIT. Citing recent tragedies, they warned that student welfare was being compromised and called on the government to take swift diplomatic and regulatory action to prevent further risk.

What was the issue at KIIT?

The concern was sparked by the February 2025 death of Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old third-year B.Tech student from Nepal, who was found dead in her hostel room. Her death was initially suspected to be a suicide. However, further revelations showed that she had filed a sexual harassment complaint in 2024—allegedly ignored by the university administration.

The incident led to widespread outrage among the Nepali student community at KIIT. Protests erupted, with students accusing the university of negligence and mishandling of the case. Reports also emerged of protesting students being forcibly evicted from hostels and left at railway stations without proper support.

In response to mounting pressure, the Odisha state government formed a high-level committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Lamsal’s death and the university’s actions. Meanwhile, India’s National Human Rights Commission launched its own inquiry, demanding a report on the incident. Nepal’s government also raised the matter through diplomatic channels, seeking justice and improved safeguards for its students abroad.

With two unexplained deaths now raising alarm, Nepali lawmakers are pressing for strong preventive measures, including suspending educational exchanges with KIIT until student safety can be assured.

Highlights:

Nepal’s Parliament urges a ban on sending students to KIIT, Odisha, following two suspicious deaths of Nepali female students.
No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) may be withheld for students applying to the institute.
Prakriti Lamsal, 20, was found dead in her hostel in February 2025; she had earlier filed a sexual harassment complaint.
Students allege negligence and harassment by university authorities, including forced eviction of protesters.
The Odisha government formed a probe committee; India’s NHRC and Nepal’s government are also involved.
Lawmakers demand stronger safeguards and monitoring for Nepali students abroad.