Foreign Minister Rana talks to Indian Minister Suraj on Odisha incident

Kathmandu, Feb 19: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, has talked to an Indian Minister by phone on the issues relating to the Odisha incident.

Dr. Rana had a telephone conversation with Surya Banshi Suraj, Minister for Higher Education in Odisha State, on the death of a Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, in a hostel of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Odisha.

During the call, Minister Rana urged the Odisha Minister to conduct a fair investigation, bring the culprit to book, and ensure a safe atmosphere in the academic institution for Nepali students to resume class, according to Minister Rana’s secretariat.

In response, Indian Minister Suraj informed that Odisha state had taken the KIIT incident seriously and formed a high-level investigation committee to probe the incident and cater justice to Prakriti. He also said a separate hotline number was set up for Nepali students and their guardians for consultation, and efforts would be made to return the Nepali students studying in the KIIT.

Moreover, it was shared in the telephone conversation that the KIIT had initiated action against the college staff who abused Nepali students, and a safe atmosphere was ensured for the Nepali students returning to the college hostel.

Minister Suraj committed that India and Nepal had unique relations and it would be continued further in the days ahead. —RSS