ODISHA, May 9: After the suspicious deaths of two Nepali students, Prisha Shah and Prakriti Lamsal, who were studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Bhubaneswar, local police authorities in Odisha have taken proactive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. On Thursday, police conducted a two-and-a-half-hour discussion involving university staff, students and hostel wardens.
During the meeting held at the Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner’s office in Keshari Nagar, students were encouraged to report any kind of harassment, pressure, or problems they face—whether from the university administration or otherwise—directly to the police. The authorities emphasized that students should not hesitate to contact them and provided a hotline number for emergencies.
Furthermore, the police advised KIIT University’s administration to act more responsibly toward student welfare and ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future.
Dr Suresh Dev Dutta Singh, the Police Commissioner of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, stated that the Indian Police Service (IPS) has been assigned the responsibility of addressing student grievances. He informed Nagarik Daily that a female Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) from the IPS has been appointed specifically for this task.
“If you face any undue pressure or encounter any problems at the university, please report it immediately. We are ready to resolve any issues,” Commissioner Singh assured students on Thursday. Addressing international students, he added, “Those of you who have come from abroad, please feel safe and focus on your studies. If anyone engages in criminal activities, behaves inappropriately, or commits harassment, we will take immediate action.”
Probe Prisha's Death Thoroughly
During the discussion with the police, several female students reported incidents of harassment within the university premises. They shared that male students often harass them and university staff tend to cast unnecessary suspicion when they are seen walking with male friends. If a girl is seen with a male companion, it often leads to baseless rumors and further harassment.
The students also highlighted that while walking from college to the hostel or in nearby areas, local youths and men frequently tease them, stare inappropriately and engage in harassing behavior. They informed the police that such issues had been reported multiple times to the university administration, but the problems continued.
The police have urged the university administration to take these matters seriously and have also expressed their readiness to provide security within the university premises. Authorities noted that there have been frequent negative reports coming from KIIT University, including concerns about students suffering from depression. They informed the university that the police and other government bodies are actively investigating these issues and emphasized the need for the administration to pay close attention to student well-being.
Republica Daily has been consistently reporting on the case of Prisha Shah and various activities at KIIT University for the past four days through on-site coverage. Prisha Shah died under suspicious circumstances on Thursday, May 1. Following her death, a sense of fear and uncertainty spread among international students studying at KIIT University.
For Thursday’s meeting, three vehicles were used to bring international female students from KIIT University to the police office. Hostel wardens, faculty members, and staff were also summoned, and the police issued strong warnings and instructions to them.
At the police office, it was observed that hostel wardens from KIIT University had kept Nepali students under close supervision. They were kept away from both the police and journalists, and were only allowed to speak collectively in a controlled setting within the conference hall. Inside the hall, Nepali students were able to raise only limited concerns.
The wardens reportedly prevented the students from speaking with journalists. The Nepali students appeared visibly distressed and anxious. “We are not in a position to speak right now,” one Nepali student said hesitantly. Hostel wardens and supervisors were seen closely monitoring the Nepali students throughout the event.
While the investigation into the suspicious death of Nepali student Prisha Shah at KIIT University is ongoing, oral complaints have been lodged against four Indian students. The police have initiated an investigation into these individuals. The complaints were filed by Prisha's father, Shyam Shah, at the Bhubaneswar Police Station in Odisha, which led to the involvement of the four students in the inquiry. However, the Bhubaneswar police have not disclosed any further details on the matter.
Dr Singh confirmed that they had received oral statements from Prisha’s family. “There are some developments in our investigation, but we can only disclose details to Prisha’s family at this stage,” Commissioner Singh added.
Currently, the KIIT University administration has begun counseling sessions for international students. Additionally, the Bhubaneswar police are also conducting counseling for foreign students studying in Odisha.
KIIT hosts a large number of international students including those from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, France, Somalia and Syria.
