Bhubaneswar, 22 February (H.S.)Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today assured Nepal's Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the alleged harassment of Nepali students at KIIT Deemed University in Bhubaneswar.

During a telephonic conversation, the Chief Minister stated, Nepali students at KIIT are like our own children. The state government will ensure their safety and security. We are taking all necessary steps to address the issue and will work to restore the trust and confidence of Nepali students in Odisha.

The Chief Minister also met with two officials from the Nepalese Embassy, Naveen Raj Adhikari and Sanjiv Sharma, at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar to discuss the matter further. Majhi informed the officials that ten people had been arrested by Odisha police in connection with the incident. He reiterated the state government's commitment to providing justice for the Nepali students and ensuring normalcy is restored at KIIT.

The Nepalese Embassy officials thanked the Odisha government for its swift action following the alleged suicide of a Nepali student at KIIT, as well as the subsequent harassment of other Nepali students. They also expressed that Nepal has long maintained cordial relations with Odisha, and these ties would continue. The parents and guardians of Nepali students studying at KIIT expressed their satisfaction with the prompt response from the Odisha government.

The incident involved a third-year BTech female student from Nepal, who allegedly died by suicide after being harassed by a male student at the university. Following the incident, the university had asked Nepalese students to vacate the campus after they launched a protest demanding justice for the deceased student.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda