KATHMANDU, Feb 25: On Tuesday, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli extended his heartfelt support to the family of Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old Nepali student from a private engineering college in India who tragically died by suspected suicide in her hostel room earlier this month.
During a phone call with Prakriti’s father, Sunil Lamsal, Prime Minister Oli conveyed his condolences and emphasized his dedication to ensuring justice, according to officials.
Prakriti, a third-year B Tech (Computer Science) student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, was discovered deceased in her hostel room on February 16, prompting unrest on the campus. The circumstances surrounding her death are currently under investigation by her family and relevant authorities.
Approximately 1,000 Nepali students are enrolled at KIIT, Odisha.
In his conversation with Prakriti’s parents, Oli reassured them that the Nepali government had been closely following the case since its inception. He committed to providing all necessary diplomatic and legal assistance to ensure that those responsible face justice, officials reported.
“This news has profoundly saddened me. It has brought sorrow to us all. While we cannot alter what has occurred, this unfortunate event is under investigation,” the Prime Minister remarked, expressing confidence that Indian authorities would conduct a thorough inquiry and justice would be served for the victim.
Sunil Lamsal expressed gratitude to the government for its focus on the case and stressed the importance of implementing stronger measures to safeguard Nepali students studying abroad.
“Many Nepali youth are pursuing their studies in India. We do not wish to see such incidents happen again. The government must take proactive actions regarding this matter,” he stated.
In response, Oli assured that the government had taken the case seriously from the outset and reiterated his resolve to secure justice for Prakriti.
Last Saturday, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba called for an “impartial investigation” into Prakriti’s situation and urged legal action against the perpetrator.
Deuba conveyed these requests during a telephone discussion with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Prakriti hailed from Bhairahawa in western Nepal.
The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal has also appealed to its Indian counterpart to probe her unnatural death and ensure justice.
After the incident, Prime Minister Oli dispatched two embassy officials to Bhubaneswar to assess the situation. (PTI)
