KIIT apologises, removes 2 officers for their ‘behavior’ against Nepali students after death on campus

NEW DELHI: Following a row over the alleged eviction and mistreatment of protesting Nepali students at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) after a BTech student death, the institute has removed two officers for “their behavior” towards the international students and apologised, expressing ‘love’ for them.

In an official apology, the KIIT vice-chancellor Saranjit Singh expressed dismay over the ‘untoward’ incident wherein a female student from Nepal, Prakriti Lamsal , studying in third-year died by suicide in her hostel on the campus. The institute also expressed regret for its actions against the Nepali students who were demonstrating for justice.

“We are extremely appalled by the untoward incident that took place in our campus on the evening of 16th February 2025. We are also regretful of the way some of us behaved with the agitating students. We love our students and had never done any disservice to them. The comments made by two of our officers are extremely irresponsible. Although the comments are made on their personal capacity on the spur of the moment, we do not support their action. We have removed them from service. They too have apologized for their behavior. We too apologize for all that has happened and hereby tender our love and affection to all the students and people of Nepal,” said KIIT VC in a letter of apology shared on their official page on X.

“We love them as much as we love the people of India and the people of the world. Additionally, we are again appealing to our Nepali students to join the regular academics with immediate effect,” the institute added.

KIIT student suicide

Recently, the late student’s father also alleged that the engineering institute misbehaved with the students of the neighbouring country. He has reached India for the postmortem exam of his daughter’s body. Two officers of the Nepal Embassy are expected to visit KIIT following the ruckus, after instructions from Nepali PM K P Oli.

Nepali Embassy had also asked the institution to prioritise the safety and security of Nepali students and to ensure an impartial investigation into the student suicide. According to KIIT, a police investigation was launched immediately and the accused has been apprehended.