Bhubaneswar, February 22: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assured Nepal's Foreign Minister, Dr. Arju Rana Deuba, of stringent action regarding the recent unrest at KIIT University following the tragic death of a Nepali student. During a telephonic conversation on Saturday, Majhi reaffirmed that all individuals responsible for the incident would face strict legal consequences.
The situation escalated after the death of a Nepali girl student on February 16, which led to unrest on the KIIT University campus. The institution initially directed all Nepali students to vacate the premises on February 17. However, the order was later revoked following the intervention of the Odisha Government and Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who had dispatched two embassy officials to Bhubaneswar to counsel affected students.
The Chief Minister assured that Nepali students in Odisha would be treated with full respect and dignity. He emphasized that the state government is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure students' safety and restore their confidence.
Nepal Embassy officials Naveen Raj Nirukh and Sanjiv Sharma Das met with Majhi at Lok Seva Bhavan to discuss the matter. During the meeting, the Chief Minister informed them that 10 individuals had been arrested in connection with the case and that the government was actively working to restore a conducive academic environment at KIIT University.
The Nepalese officials expressed their appreciation for the swift response of the Odisha government. They noted that both Nepali students and their families felt reassured by the actions taken. They also conveyed their gratitude to the Odisha Chief Minister and government, hoping that the long-standing ties between Nepal and Odisha would continue to strengthen.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Nikunj Bihari Dhal, and other Officials were present in the meeting.
