KATHMANDU: Bhubaneswar police have arrested three additional individuals in connection with the suspicious death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India.
The latest detainees include the university’s Human Resources Director General, 59-year-old Shivananda Mishra, Administration Director, 50-year-old Pratap Kumar Chamupati, and Hostel Director, Sudhir Kumar Rath.
The arrests come amid mounting pressure for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lamsal’s death.
The 20-year-old student from Butwal, Nepal, was found dead in her hostel room on Sunday at around 4 pm, with initial reports suggesting she may have been driven to suicide due to physical and mental harassment.
Authorities have already taken into custody KIIT University security personnel, including 45-year-old Ramakant Nayak, Rabindra Nayak, Jogendra Behera, and Begu Behera, for allegedly attacking and mistreating Nepali students who were protesting and demanding justice for Lamsal.
These protests erupted immediately after news of her death spread, with students alleging that university officials failed to take action against the abuse she faced.
Additionally, Bhubaneswar police had earlier arrested 21-year-old Advik Srivastava, an Indian student at KIIT, on Monday. Srivastava, said to have been in a relationship with Lamsal, is accused of subjecting her to prolonged mental and physical harassment, which her friends claim ultimately led to her tragic demise. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
Efforts are being coordinated between the Nepali Embassy in India, local administration, security agencies, and the university to bring Lamsal’s body back to Nepal. Preparations are in place to transport her remains to Rupandehi by Wednesday evening, ensuring that her family can perform the final rites.
The case has sparked outrage among Nepali students, with protests breaking out on the university campus. However, instead of addressing their concerns, the university administration allegedly retaliated, using security personnel and outside groups to attack more than 700 protesting students. As a result, over 300 Nepali students have left KIIT and returned to Nepal, fearing for their safety.
Following the growing controversy, the KIIT administration has issued multiple apologies, but critics argue that these gestures come too late.
The incident has drawn significant attention in both Nepal and India, even reaching the Odisha State Assembly, prompting the Odisha government to form a high-level committee to investigate the matter.
According to Indian media reports, six individuals, including Srivastava, remain in police custody. Two security guards have been dismissed from service, while three others have been suspended in connection with the incident.
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