New Delhi: Father of the Nepali student who died by suicide at Kalinga Institute of Information Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, earlier this month, has sought justice for his daughter, saying he was ‘confident’ the Indian government will provide it.
“I can’t be in Odisha for the entire duration of the investigation but is confident that the Indian government will do justice to his daughter,” Sunil Lamsal was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
The bereaved father told the newspaper that India and Nepal have had “roti-beti ka rishta” – a bond of livelihoods and marriages – since the era of Ramayana. He meant that the borders between the two countries have long been blurred.
Prakriti Lamsal died in her hostel on February 16 by suspected suicide. Her death stirred a major controversy at the private institution where several other Nepali students have since launched a protest against the management.
They alleged that the woman had complained to the university’s international relations office regarding harassment by a batchmate but that the administration did not act, The Indian Express reported.
Also read: Nepal’s Human Rights Body Seeks Probe Into KIIT Student Death, Action Against Office-Bearers
The father corroborated this while speaking to TOI. He told the newspaper that although she was reserved, at KIIT she found the courage to file two complaints against the student who was harassing her. However, no action was taken by the KIIT management apart from calling them for “counselling”.
“A firm action could have saved her,” he said.
Thanking the protesting students, Lamsal told the news daily, “If it weren’t for them (the students), this may never have come to light.”
Following the protests, Nepali students studying at KIIT were asked to vacate the campus. The Hindu reported that over 500 Nepali students were forced to leave and that the university bussed students to Cuttack railway station so they could go home.
Several students did not have train tickets, according to the newspaper.
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli expressed concern over the incident and requested KIIT to let the agitating students remain on campus and study at the university. Nepal’s foreign ministry publicly posted a communique by its India embassy saying it had successfully requested KIIT to accommodate the Nepali students on campus.
Later, KIIT publicly appealed to its “Nepali students who have or plan to leave the campus to return and resume the classes”.
According to the Press Trust of India, 159 students returned to the country via Raxaul border.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s foreign minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba spoke to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on February 22 over the phone and insisted that the teachers and staffers who misbehaved with Nepalese students be removed from KIIT, according to PTI.
If you know someone – a friend or a family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. The Suicide Prevention India Foundation maintains a list of phone numbers they can call to speak in confidence. The TeleManas helpline, a government helpline, functions 24×7; its number is 1-800 891 4416 or 14416. You could also take them to the nearest hospital.
