A Nepali undergraduate student was found dead in her hostel room at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) on Thursday evening, marking the second such incident in less than three months.
According to Hindustan Times, the student, who hailed from Birgunj, Nepal, was pursuing computer science. Preliminary investigations suggest suicide, though the exact reasons remain unclear. Police are currently probing the case.
This tragic incident follows the suicide of another 20-year-old Nepali computer science student in February, who took her own life after allegedly being blackmailed by a classmate. The case had sparked outrage when faculty members were accused of making racially insensitive remarks against Nepali students.
The accused in the earlier case, Advik Shrivastava, a third-year B.Tech student, was arrested while attempting to flee. KIIT faced severe backlash after university officials ordered over 1,000 Nepali students to vacate the campus, prompting intervention from the Ministry of External Affairs. The university later issued apologies.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which investigated the February incident, held KIIT responsible for failing to address sexual harassment complaints, leading to the victim’s suicide. The NHRC noted that the university’s inaction violated her rights to equality and dignity.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government’s high-powered committee, formed to probe misconduct allegations against KIIT officials, has yet to submit its report.
The recurring incidents have raised serious concerns about student welfare and institutional accountability at the university. Authorities are under pressure to ensure stricter safeguards for students, particularly international enrollees.
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