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2025-11-17T01:25:18Z

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{{multiple issues|
{{Notability|Event|date=March 2025}}
{{POV|date=March 2025}}
}}

{{short description|Suicide of a Nepali student in India}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox event
| title = Suicide of Prakriti Lamsal
| date = {{start date|df=yes|2025|02|16}}
| location = [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology]], [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]], India
| type = [[Suicide]]
| cause = Alleged harassment and institutional negligence.
| participants = Prakriti Lamsal
}}

On 16 February 2025, [[Nepal]]i B.Tech student Prakriti Lamsal was found dead in her hostel at KIIT Bhubaneswar, [[Odisha|Odisha, India]], in a suspected suicide.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-02-17 |title=B-Tech third-year student from Nepal found dead in KIIT hostel in Bhubaneswar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/b-tech-third-year-student-from-nepal-found-dead-in-kiit-hostel-in-bhubaneswar/articleshow/118328338.cms |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Protests erupted as students alleged harassment and institutional negligence.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq5lbmu-pZ0 |title=Nepali Student From KIIT University Death; Protesting Students Asked To Leave |date=2025-02-17 |last=The Indian Express |via=YouTube}}</ref> The university ordered all Nepali students to vacate, leaving many stranded.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nepali student found dead at KIIT, all Nepali students ordered to vacate |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2025/02/17/nepali-student-found-dead-at-kiit-all-nepali-students-ordered-to-vacate |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref> Police arrested a male student in connection with the case, while the [[Foreign relations of Nepal|Nepali]] Embassy intervened. Investigations are ongoing amid rising tensions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2025 |title=Nepal student found dead in Odisha's KIIT hostel, over 500 students 'forcibly evicted'; PM KP Sharma Oli reacts |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/nepal-student-found-dead-in-odishas-kiit-hostel-students-forcibly-evicted-pm-kp-sharma-oli-says-working-on-this-11739792195422.html |website=Livemint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=KIIT suicide row: Who was Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal? Was she harassed by her ex? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/kiit-suicide-row-nepali-student-prakriti-lamsal-harassed-odisha-protests-13864703.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Background==
Prakriti Lamsal was a student from [[Siddharthanagar]], [[Bhairahawa]], in the [[Rupandehi District]] of [[Nepal]]. She was pursuing her higher studies at the [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology]] (KIIT) in [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-20 |title=Prakriti Lamsal's death triggers protests — India-Nepal tensions rise |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/prakriti-lamsals-death-triggers-protests-india-nepal-tensions-rise-glbg-2683147-2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> She was found dead in her hostel room on 16 February 2025 in what appeared to be a [[suicide]].<ref>{{cite news |date=17 February 2025 |title=Nepali student found dead in KIIT hostel; Blackmail allegations stir campus unrest |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/kiit-btech-student-nepal-suicide-blackmail-allegations-campus-unrest-police-investigation-1.10350697 |accessdate=23 February 2025 |publisher=Mathrubhumi}}</ref>

==Incident==
Lamsal was found dead in her hostel room at the [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology]] on 16 February 2025. Her body was discovered by her roommate, who became concerned after not hearing from her for a while. The roommate went to check on her and found Lamsal unresponsive. The incident was immediately reported to university authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=21-year-old from Lucknow held after batchmate's suicide at Odisha university, FIR says he was 'blackmailing' her |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/batchmate-held-kiit-university-odisha-nepal-student-suicide-9841359/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Lamsal had last communicated with her family earlier that day, mentioning that she was heading to a campus event. Her father reported that she had called her mother at around 2:51 PM, sounding normal and mentioning her plans. However, later that afternoon, the family was informed by university authorities between 5 PM and 5:30 PM about her death.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=Nepal student death: Father alleges harassment, emotional blackmail; college responds - CNBC TV18 |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/nepal-student-death-father-alleges-harassment-emotional-blackmail-college-responds-19560745.htm |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=CNBCTV18 |language=en}}</ref>

Details surrounding the exact method of her death have not been publicly disclosed, but the incident was classified as a suicide following the [[autopsy]] report. On February 18, 2025, police handed over the body of Prakriti Lamsal to her family following an autopsy. <ref>{{cite news
|title=KIIT row: Police hand over Nepali student's body to family after autopsy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kiit-row-police-hand-over-nepali-students-body-to-family-after-autopsy-probe-panel-formed-by-odisha-govt/article69234465.ece
|website=The Hindu
|date=February 18, 2025
|access-date=February 23, 2025
}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
KIIT initially issued suspension notices to over 1100 Nepali students, instructing them to vacate their campus housing. This decision led to widespread protests from the Nepali student community, who raised concerns about harassment and the handling of complaints. The university later retracted the suspension notices, allowing the students to return.

During the protests, some students reported instances of verbal abuse by university staff. In one incident, a staff member reportedly made a remark comparing the university's budget to Nepal's, which was perceived as insensitive. The staff member later apologized, stating that the comment was made "on the spur of the moment." Odisha Police arrested five university staffers for actions related to efforts to remove Nepali students from campus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=5 Odisha university staffers arrested after protests over Nepal student suicide |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nepal-student-suicide-bhubaneswar-kiit-university-protest-odisha-arrested-2681920-2025-02-18 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

The Odisha Higher Education Department summoned KIIT founder [[Achyuta Samanta]] for discussions regarding the events surrounding Prakriti's death and the university's response. Authorities also planned forensic tests to further investigate the case. The [[India–Nepal relations|Nepali Embassy in India]] intervened to ensure a thorough investigation into Prakriti's death and address the concerns of Nepali students studying in India.

On 10 April 2025, Odisha High Court issued an interim stay on proceedings initiated by India's NHRC(National Human Rights Commission).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dutta |first=Jyoti Prakash |date=2025-04-10 |title=Orissa High Court Stays NHRC's Proceedings Against KIIT University In Nepali Student's Death Case |url=https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/orissa-high-court/orissa-high-court-stays-nhrc-proceedings-nepali-kiit-student-death-case-289032 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lamasal, Prakriti}}
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:2025 suicides]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in India]]
[[Category:Female suicides]]
[[Category:India–Nepal relations]]
[[Category:Suicides in India]]
[[Category:Suicides by hanging in India]]

Suicide of Prakriti Lamsal - Revision history

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