'Nepalese students not outsiders': Odisha CM assures protection post KIIT incident

As tensions rose following the tragic incident at KIIT, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stepped forward to reassure Nepalese students of their safety and dignity.

In Short

• CM Majhi assures safety, dignity for Nepalese students in Odisha
• Nepalese officials praise Odisha’s swift response to student attacks
• Govt vows strict action over KIIT incident, arrests 10 suspects

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on February 22, 2024 asserted that Nepalese students pursuing studies in the state would continue to study with the utmost respect and dignity. His assurance was made after a 20-year-old engineering student allegedly committed suicide and subsequent attacks on Nepalese students at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT).

As per an official statement, Majhi expressed this assurance in a telephonic talk with Nepal's Foreign Minister, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba. He agreed to take stringent action against the culprits for the violence.

"The state government is keeping a tight watch on developments at KIIT and will do whatever it takes to win back the hopes and confidence of the students," Majhi told PTI. Deuba praised the response from the Odisha government and complimented the action taken in a bid to alleviate the situation.

Subsequently, Majhi received Nepalese Embassy officials Sanjeev Das Sharma and Naveen Raj Adhikari at his office in Lok Seva Bhawan.

He told them that 10 people had been arrested in relation to the attacks.

"Strict action will be taken against all those involved. The government has made all necessary arrangements to restore the academic environment on campus," he assured them.

The Nepalese authorities appreciated the rapid response of the Odisha government, saying the steps had assured students and their families. They also thanked the state government and Chief Minister Majhi on behalf of Nepal's government.

Stressing the traditional connections between Odisha and Nepal, the officials of the embassy hoped that the recent events would not mar the age-old relation. The discussion was also had with Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Additional Chief Secretary to CM, Nikunj Bihari Dhal.

The Nepalese officials have been deployed at the capital city of Odisha for the last five days upon directives from Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.