5 days ago
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India has pledged to ensure the safety and well-being of Nepali students studying in the country following protests triggered by the suicide of a Nepali student in Odisha. The student, a woman residing in a hostel in the state’s capital, Bhubaneswar, was found dead on Sunday. Authorities have since taken a male student into custody as part of their investigation.
The Indian embassy in Kathmandu reaffirmed its commitment to Nepali students, emphasising their role in fostering strong people-to-people ties between the two nations.
“Nepali students studying in India form an important facet of enduring people-to-people links,” the embassy stated on Monday. “The government of India will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of Nepali students in India.”
The university where the incident occurred, the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), has more than 400 Nepali students among its 40,000 annual enrollments. Following the tragic event, protests erupted, with students blocking roads for hours, chanting slogans, and pushing through university gates. The demonstrations led to rising tensions on campus.
University spokesperson Shradhanjali Nayak confirmed that the situation was now under control. “Students have been requested to resume classes as soon as possible,” she told Reuters.
KIIT initially issued an internal directive instructing all Nepali students to leave immediately but later withdrew the order. The Nepali embassy in New Delhi responded swiftly, contacting university authorities to ensure the safety of Nepali students.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, K P Sharma Oli, addressed the situation in a post on X (formerly Twitter), announcing that two officers had been dispatched to counsel the affected students. Arrangements were also made to provide students with the choice of staying in their hostel or returning home.
The incident has highlighted concerns about the welfare of international students in India, prompting both governments to take steps to ensure their protection and address growing anxieties within the student community.
Melissa Enoch
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