Tension at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India, that engulfed the university following the suspicious death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal in a hostel and the subsequent protests has eased.

Around 78 percent of the Nepali students, who were forced to leave the college during the incident, have now returned to their hostels. By Wednesday evening, 913 of the 1,169 Nepali students enrolled at KIIT had returned. The university administration reached out to students and parents individually, apologised for the incident, and urged them to come back. It also arranged flight tickets for 900 students.

In a letter to Nepali Ambassador to India Shankar Sharma, KIIT Vice Chancellor Professor Saranjit Singh said that 828 Nepali students had returned to the hostel, while 85 were away for internships. He added that the remaining students were in the process of returning. “Academic activities, exams, and employment programmes for Nepali students have resumed,” Singh wrote in the letter. “We have scheduled re-examinations for students who missed their classes and exams. The university remains committed to ensuring security and an inclusive environment for all students.”

Biplav Acharya, a third-year Computer Science student from Palpa, said the atmosphere in the hostel and on campus has improved. “Wardens and security guards have been replaced, and senior administrators regularly check in with us,” he said. “Most Nepali students have returned, and exams have been scheduled for those who missed their exams.” Mid-semester exams for third- and fourth-year students are also underway.

Sanjeev Sharma Das, a Nepal Police Superintendent posted at the Nepali Embassy in Delhi, said the situation at KIIT was returning to normal. “We are in daily contact with students and the college administration,” he said. “Over 900 students have returned and are preparing for their exams.” According to him, the Odisha police are investigating the incident, while the state government has formed a high-level committee to probe the matter. Meanwhile, India’s National Human Rights Commission has deployed an expert team to conduct an independent inquiry.

Lamsal was found dead in her hostel on February 16 under suspicious circumstances. Nepali students, among others, protested, demanding a fair investigation into her death, but the university administration forcibly evicted them from their hostels the next day. The incident sparked outrage in both Nepal and India, prompting the Nepal government to engage in diplomatic efforts.

Following the incident, KIIT suspended more than 20 staff members allegedly involved. An official from the university’s international student coordination department told Kantipur Daily that multiple agencies were investigating the matter. India’s National Human Rights Commission has ordered its director general to deploy a team of experts for a field investigation and submit a report by March 10. The commission said it initiated the inquiry following complaints. Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission has also urged its Indian counterpart to take necessary action.