Over 500 Nepali students forced to leave KIIT University following unrest surrounding a suicide

More than 500 Nepali students were forced to leave the campus of a private university in Bhubaneswar after tensions flared following the alleged suicide of a female student from Nepal on February 17, 2025.

More than 500 Nepali students were forced to leave the campus of a private university in Bhubaneswar after tensions flared following the alleged suicide of a female student from Nepal on Monday (February 17, 2025).

The institute - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to be University, immediately announced sine die for all Nepali students. It left behind bus-loads of Nepali students at Cuttack Railway Station, 30 km from the institute. What was even more concerning was that many students, including girls, were left stranded at railway station, with several lacking train tickets to return home.

A notice issued by KIIT says, “the university is closed sine die for all the international students from Nepal. They are hereby directed to vacate the university campus immediately today on February 17, 2025.”

According to police, a third-year B.Tech student from Nepal had ended her life by hanging in her hostel room following suspected strained relationship with another male student from KIIT on February 16. Following the death, students particularly of Nepali origin took to the street demanding arrest of the boy responsible for abusing of the girl leading to her suicide.

“We had received a police complaint about reported suicide of a Nepali female student on February 16. We immediately rushed to hostel room and tried to pacify students who were visibly agitated over the incident,” said Pinak Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Bhubaneswar.

He said, “police seized mobile phone and laptop of the girl. Evidence was collected by following procedures properly, which was one of major demands of students. The girl’s body was preserved in mortuary.”

A clarification issued by Shradhanjali Nayak, Director Public Relation of KIIT, says, “police had taken a male student—believed to have been in a relationship with the deceased — into custody for questioning. It is believed that the student may have taken this step following personal dispute or issue between them.”