KATHMANDU: Indian police have intensified their investigation into the death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year Computer Science student at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Prakriti was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her hostel room on Sunday. Following a complaint by her cousin, Siddhant Sigdel, a third-year BTech (Mechanical) student at the same university, police arrested 21-year-old Advik Srivastava, also a third-year BTech (Mechanical) student at KIIT.
Siddhant reported that Prakriti had taken her own life due to misbehavior and harassment by Srivastava.
A criminal case has been registered against Srivastava at Infocity Police Station on charges of abetting suicide. The police confirmed that he was arrested on Monday and sent to judicial custody the same day. As part of the ongoing investigation, they have seized Prakriti’s electronic devices and other documents as evidence.
Tensions escalated on Monday morning when the KIIT University administration asked Nepali students to vacate their hostels, citing undisciplined activities after students gathered to protest Prakriti’s death. However, the university reversed its decision within a day and urged Nepali students to return to their hostels.
The case has further expanded with the arrest of four university security guards— Ramakant Nayak, Rabindra Nayak, Jogendra Behera, and Begu Behera—following allegations of misconduct towards students.
The police confirmed that they are conducting investigations into all related criminal cases and have pledged an impartial and fair inquiry.
Bhubaneswar police have assured that they are committed to ensuring justice and the safety of all students, including Nepali nationals studying at KIIT University.
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