Kathmandu, February 18
The Odisha Legislative Assembly has raised concerns over the death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar.
According to Odisha TV journalist Swadhin Raut, opposition lawmakers criticised the state government for failing to maintain law and order. Some demanded that the university’s administration be held accountable.
Opposition leaders argued that the incident had tarnished Odisha’s reputation on an international level and called for a thorough investigation.
“The BJP government, which came to power in the name of Odisha’s identity, has failed to maintain security in the state,” said opposition leader Pratap Dev in the assembly. “The death of a student at KIIT University has brought international criticism to Odisha.”
Dev, a former minister and leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), added that security conditions were deteriorating in both the state capital and other areas.
In response, BJP legislator Tankadhar Tripathi called the student’s death an unfortunate incident and questioned the role of KIIT’s founder. “Which party made KIIT’s founder an MP? Who promoted him?” he asked.
KIIT’s founder, Achyuta Samanta, served as a Member of Parliament from 2019 to 2024 and was elected from the opposition BJD.
Meanwhile, Congress lawmaker Tara Bahinipati demanded a judicial investigation into Lamsal’s death.
“Odisha is facing international criticism over the way KIIT’s administration treated Nepali students,” she said. “The university’s response to protesting Nepali students was disgraceful.”
