Kathmandu, 23 February (HS): After the suicide of a Nepali girl student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha , more than 300 students studying there have returned to Nepal. These students have accused the university administration of misbehaving with the Nepali students and suspending them from the hostel.

Home Ministry spokesperson Ramchandra Tiwari said on Sunday that within a week, 301 students have returned to Nepal from the borders of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He said that 20 students have returned from the Kakarbhitta border of West Bengal, 36 from the Bhairahawa Sunauli border of Uttar Pradesh, 162 from the Raxaul Birganj border of Bihar and 83 students have returned from the Jogbani Viratnagar border of Bihar. The returning students have admitted that they are constantly receiving phone calls and messages from the university administration and Bhubaneswar police that they can return to their hostel and continue their studies. The returning students also told that Bhubaneswar police has also taken the responsibility of their complete security.

Soumya Jha, a fourth semester student of Computer Engineering at KIIT, who returned from Odisha to Kathmandu, said that after the death of the Nepali student, the way the Nepali students were beaten, abused and mistreated by the university administration, many students are going through mental stress and do not want to go back again.

However, the Odisha government has ordered an inquiry into this incident. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed under the leadership of the Additional Secretary of the state's Home Ministry and the investigation has also started. The police have arrested two private guards who beat up the Nepali students. The administration has suspended two administrative officers who misbehaved with the students.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar