Tragedy at KIIT: Nepali Student Death Sparks Outrage and Mass Eviction

Orissa - In a deeply unsettling turn of events at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), the tragic death of a 20-year-old Nepali student has ignited widespread protests and led to the abrupt eviction of all Nepali students from the campus.

The young woman was found hanging in her hostel room, an incident initially treated as a suicide by local authorities. However, fellow students have come forward with allegations that she had been subjected to prolonged harassment, reportedly filing complaints with university officials a month prior, which they claim were met with inaction.

The situation escalated when students organized a massive protest, blocking the university's main gate and adjacent roads, demanding accountability from the administration. In response, rather than addressing the grievances, the university issued a directive mandating that all Nepali students vacate the campus immediately. This decision has been met with severe criticism, as it appears to penalize the victims rather than support them during a time of crisis.

University Registrar Gyanaranjan Mohanty stated that the deceased had a personal relationship with the accused, suggesting that a dispute between them led to the tragic outcome. This narrative has been challenged by students and activists who argue that it shifts blame onto the victim and overlooks systemic issues of harassment and administrative negligence.