Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India]: KIIT University in Bhubaneswar has issued an urgent notice directing Nepali students to vacate the campus immediately, following the death of a third-year B.Tech student from Nepal in a university hostel.
The notice, issued on Monday, stated that the university was being “closed sine die for all international students from Nepal,” and instructed them to leave the campus by February 17.
Following the announcement, students from Nepal were seen packing their belongings and leaving their hostels.
University’s Response to the Incident
Professor Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar of KIIT University, addressed the situation, stating:
“Following the incident, a few Nepali friends of the (deceased) girl held an agitation. University authorities held a discussion with them, and it was sorted out. The situation on campus was normal. Now they are going back to their homes. Based on the protest, we asked the students to leave the campus, and they accepted it and left for their home.”
Nepali Students Express Helplessness
Some Nepali students alleged that they were forced to leave without clear instructions or support.
Rajan Gupta, a student from Nepal, said:
“We were protesting for the (deceased) girl. We don’t know what their intentions are, but we were forcibly made to vacate the hostel. There is no fixed train schedule, and I have no money. We haven’t even had food. We are helpless.”
He also claimed that college staff had entered the hostel and urged them to leave.
Similarly, Anil Prasad Yadav, another Nepali student, recounted:
“A girl from Nepal was found dead yesterday (February 16). We went to the International Office to find out more details, but we could not get any information. We sat on a dharna overnight. Later, we were sent back to the hostel and then told to pack up and leave within an hour. We have nothing with us. We don’t know how we will travel. We have not even had food… We are trying to get a ticket.”
Nepal’s Prime Minister Responds
The incident has drawn attention from Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, who addressed it on social media.
In a Facebook post, he stated that he was aware of the situation through media reports and social media. He expressed concern over the death of a Nepali student at KIIT University and the alleged forced eviction of Nepali students from their hostels.
He assured that his government is working through diplomatic channels and is in contact with relevant Indian authorities to address the issue.