Lawmakers Seek Security of Students Studying Abroad, A Ban on KIIT-like Institutions

Two similar cases in barely three months
Members of Parliament across the political spectrum have drawn serious attention of the government toward an alleged ‘suicide’ of Prisa Sah (20) of Birgunj, a BTech (first year) Computer Science student at the Bhuwaneshwar-based Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), in suspicious circumstances, the second such incident involving a Nepali student at the institute in 2.5 months.   

On February 16, Prakriti Lamsal (20), a BTech student, had committed ‘suicide’ in suspicious circumstances at the same institute, according to Indian media reports. According to Indian media reports, Lamsal was in an abusive relationship. While police took a suspect into custody after the incident, what headway they have made vis-a-vis the case remains unclear.      

Speaking at the National Assembly (NA) on Sunday, NA Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal said: The recurrence of similar incidents at the same college is a matter of serious concern. The governments of Nepal and India should take steps to make sure that such incidents do not recur by conducting an impartial probe and bringing out the facts.

Government owes us an answer 
The government has reportedly expressed concern about the incident, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya of the Nepali Congress said, calling the government to ponder if expressing concern is enough, pointing out that KIIT has around 1200 Nepali students. 

“Why are such incidents recurring?” Ganga Kumari Belbase of the CPN (Maoist Center) asked, demanding an answer from the Home Minister vis-a-vis the incident. 

Belbase urged the government to constitute a committee for investigation while Sumitra BC of the CPN (UML) asked the government to take the well-being of students studying abroad seriously. 

Don't send kids to KIIT
Madan Kumari Sah of the CPN (Unified Socialist) said the government should not send Nepali students to those institutions that are not safe. The government should not issue no-objection certificates to such institutes, Sah said, appealing Nepali parents not to send their children to KIIT.

Shekhar Kumar Singh of the Loktantrik Samajvadi Party noted that a similar incident had occurred at KIIT some months ago, and urged the government to adopt an adequate policy keeping this fact in mind. 

The government must take steps and make sure that a similar incident does not occur again, he said, demanding legal action against the guilty. 

Meanwhile, KIIT, in a press release, has expressed sadness over the demise of the student and extended "deepest condolences" to bereaved family members.