Tensions flare at KIIT University after Nepali student dies by suicide; Batchmate arrested
Bhubaneswar: Protests erupted at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha after a 20-year-old Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, was found dead in her hostel room on Sunday night. Authorities confirmed that she died by suicide, prompting demonstrations by Nepali students on campus.
Following the protest, the Nepal Embassy intervened, and police arrested Lamsal’s batchmate, 21-year-old Advik Srivastava, on charges of abetment of suicide under s. 108 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). The arrest took place outside the airport on Sunday evening.
According to reports, around 500 Nepali students staged a protest, blocking the main road leading to the university. The university administration initially decided to send them home, but after facing backlash, it withdrew the decision. The situation escalated further after Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli intervened, dispatching officials to the university.
In a social media post, Oli stated, "It has come to our attention through media and social media that a Nepali student has died in the hostel of KIIT University in Odisha and that Nepali students have been forcibly evicted. The government is working on this matter through diplomatic channels."
Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra said the police received a complaint from Siddhant Sigdel, Lamsal’s cousin, regarding her death. "The police team visited the spot, seized the body, and collected her laptop and phone as per the demands of the agitating students," Mishra stated. Reports indicate that the accused was allegedly blackmailing Lamsal.
The deceased, a B.Tech student, was sent for postmortem examination. Investigations are ongoing.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
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Deepfake video of Nirmala Sitharaman used to dupe Belagavi man in Rs 7.9 lakh scam
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A 76-year-old man in Belagavi city was allegedly cheated of Rs 7.9 lakh in an online investment scam that used an AI-generated deepfake video misusing the name of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to lure investors, police said on Wednesday.
An online fraud case was registered at the cybercrime police station on May 1, they said.
According to Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, the victim, Prakash Gubbi, a senior citizen, stated in his complaint that in November last year, he came across a video on YouTube in which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman appeared to endorse an investment scheme.
The video also mentioned a link in its description for making investments.
The victim clicked on the link, entered his details, and was later contacted on social media by a person identifying himself as Adarsh Anand, who persuaded him to invest, the officer told reporters.
Citing the complaint, the officer said the victim initially invested a small amount, after which the application began showing profits of USD 65,000.
When he attempted to withdraw the amount, the accused demanded a “customs duty” payment of Rs 4.2 lakh, claiming it was required to process the withdrawal.
The victim paid the amount, after which he was asked to pay an additional Rs 2 lakh. It was at this stage that he realised he had been cheated. In total, he lost around Rs 7.9 lakh in the fraud, the officer added.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, and police are investigating the matter, police said.
The commissioner cautioned the public not to trust such videos, stating that the finance minister does not endorse any such schemes.
He warned that such content is created using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology.
He further advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid offers that appear too good to be true on the internet, and invest only through legitimate, registered agencies or trusted channels.
Deepfake technology enables the creation of realistic videos, audio recordings, and images that can mislead viewers by superimposing one person’s likeness onto another, altering their words and actions. This can present a false narrative or spread misinformation.
