Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 6 – In response to the death of a Nepalese student and allegations of brutality against protesting students at KIIT University, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo announced that a senior NHRC team will visit Bhubaneswar on Thursday to conduct an investigation
Kanoongo shared the update via a tweet on X, stating, “A team of very senior officials of @India_NHRC will reach Bhubaneswar today to investigate the incident of death of a Nepali student and alleged brutality against agitating students in a private university.”
The NHRC initiated its probe into the death of the Nepalese student at KIIT University on March 4, following allegations of assault on protesting students. Kanoongo further explained that a dedicated team has been formed to investigate the matter, and their report will be submitted before March 10.
Speaking to ANI, Kanoongo provided additional details: “We received a complaint from an organization, Kalinga Rights Forum. In the complaint, it was mentioned that a student from Nepal had died allegedly by suicide. We don’t yet know if it was a suicide.”
He also addressed the claims of mistreatment: “The complainant also told us that enraged Nepalese students who wanted to raise their voices against this were beaten up. We have formed a team and it will go to the University and conduct a probe. Before 10th (March), they will submit the report.”
The third-year B.Tech student was found dead in her hostel room on February 16. In the aftermath, Nepalese students at the university staged protests, alleging that a fellow student had harassed her and that the university had failed to act despite multiple complaints.
In a related development, Nepal’s NHRC has formally requested the Indian Human Rights Commission to investigate the incident. A letter from Nepal’s NHRC, sent to NHRC India, seeks an early investigation into the death of the Nepalese student and the alleged mistreatment of Nepalese students at KIIT University. Joint spokesperson Shyam Babu Kafle of Nepal’s NHRC said, “The Commission has written to the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRCI) in a letter dated 2081/11/7 requesting an early investigation into the incident.”
The NHRC’s investigation is set to provide clarity on the incident, as both the Indian and Nepalese human rights bodies push for a thorough inquiry into the matter.