Prakriti Lamsal had filed complaint with University authorities alleging sexual harassment 11 months before committing sucide.

Kathmandu; Prakriti Lamsal, a third year Nepali  student in Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneshwar had filed a sexual harassment case seeking probe and protection with the University authorities 11 months before she committed suicide last month.

This was revealed by Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj in the state legislative assembly today while responding to a question raised by Dasarathi Gomango of the Congress Party.

Minister Suraj, as quoted by Indian media,  told the House that she had filed a complaint with the university on March 12 last year alleging sexual harassment by a fellow student.

“As per information received from KIIT, the student had filed a complaint with the management on March 12, 2024.

The govt-formed committee is probing the incident,” the minister responded in a written reply to Congress MLA Dasarathi Gomango, according to the Times of India.

“As per information shared by KIIT, UGC has formed an internal committee as well,” Suraj said. The third-year computer science student was found hanging in her hostel room on Feb 16.

‘During the assembly, Gomango called for action against university authorities for allegedly failing to address her complaint for 11 months, which led to the tragedy.

“The tragedy could have been avoided had the KIIT officials addressed her complaint then and immediately
informed the police. We lost a student because of KIIT’s shoddy approach.

The govt should tell us about steps taken by KIIT after receiving her complaint,”  TOI said quoting Gomango said.