The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said the Indian government will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Nepali students studying in India.

At a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Nepali students are integral to India-Nepal people-to-people ties.

“The government of India will continue to take all necessary actions to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all Nepali students,” Jaiswal said.

He said the MEA has been in constant touch with the Odisha state government and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar since the issue came to light.

“We have also maintained close contact with Nepali authorities. Pursuant to our outreach, several steps have been taken by the Odisha government as well as KIIT to address the situation,” he said.

Jaiswal said Odisha police have arrested multiple individuals, including the accused, and cases have been filed against them. He said the Odisha government has also formed a high-level fact-finding committee, whose findings will guide further legal and administrative actions.

The spokesperson said the Odisha government has taken measures to facilitate the return of Nepali students.

“We remain in regular contact with Nepali authorities as well as the Odisha government to ensure real-time communication and coordination,” he said.

Meanwhile, 162 Nepali students from KIIT have returned home via the Birgunj border, according to Parsa Chief District Officer (CDO) Ganesh Aryal. They arrived between Wednesday and Friday, mostly via Kolkata and Raxaul.

Around 80 percent of the returning students are from Parsa, while others are from Bara, Rautahat, and Dhanusha. Many have demanded justice for Prakriti Lamsal, a Nepali student who died by suicide. They also complained about being expelled from their hostel without a reason and called for an immediate postponement of exams.

On Friday, a group of returning students submitted a petition to the district administration office in Parsa. “Around 15 to 16 students submitted the petition, requesting a conducive environment for their return to the institute,” Aryal said.

While receiving the petition, Aryal said the matter has become a national-level issue and is being handled by Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “I am committed to providing information, coordination, and support at the district level,” he said.

Over a hundred students studying at the same university had entered Nepal through the Biratnagar and Kakarbhitta border points by Wednesday.