The video of Manjusha Pandey and Jayanti Nath of KIIT has gone viral
Know why Odisha’s prestigious institution KIIT issued an apology statement.
The dead was identified as Nepalese national, age 21 third year computer engineering B.Tech student Prakriti Lamsal. According to the Registrar, she was a third-year B-Tech student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT).
Who are Professor Manjusha Pandey and Jayanti Nath, KIIT University teachers who mocked Nepali students in viral video after the death of student Prakriti Lamsal
Advik Srivastava, her ex-boyfriend was arrested just hours after a third-year B.Tech student was discovered dead at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University dorm campus in Bhubaneswar.
Advik Srivastava, a mechanical engineering student at the same university, was accused by the deceased girl’s classmates and acquaintances of torturing her physically and psychologically during the course of their three-year relationship.
KIIT भुवनेश्वर में नेपाली छात्रा प्रकृति लाम्साल की संदिग्ध मौत दुखद है, लेकिन प्रशासन का असंवेदनशील रवैया शर्मनाक,नेपाली छात्रों संग अभद्रता व निष्कासन निंदनीय है। भारत-नेपाल संबंधों पर चोट पहुंचाने वालों पर कार्रवाई हो! #JusticeForPrakritiLamsal #KIITUniversity #BoycottKIIT pic.twitter.com/Nccv4Kf3np
— Aashish Tripathi (@aashishtrpth) February 17, 2025
Amid ongoing protests over the alleged mistreatment of Nepali students at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), a Deemed-to-be-University, the Odisha government provided assurances to Nepal that justice would be delivered in the case of a student’s tragic suicide on campus. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi engaged in discussions with Nepali counsellors Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Raj Adhikari, affirming that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure justice for Prakriti.
She is Jayanti Nath KIIT university.
Lister her video. From which angle she is from Bihar. These all are the pre-planned of oriya and bengali gang people. First they tried to shift blame that her boyfriend was from bihar but actually he is from Lucknow and now that blame game… pic.twitter.com/S0g0reiPR3— Bihar : land of peace. (@anil798623) February 18, 2025
The university assured the public of its commitment to the welfare of its students, including those from Nepal, reiterating its affection and support for them. It further urged Nepali students to resume regular academic activities, extending an apology and reaffirming its dedication to fostering a harmonious environment on campus.
How KIIT reacted to the viral video?
The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar issued an apology and suspended two staff members following the circulation of a viral video showing their misconduct towards Nepali students during protests over the death of a 20-year-old Nepali student. The incident, which occurred on February 16, 2025, drew widespread criticism from the university community and beyond.
2 teachers of #KIIT Jayanti Nath @JayantiNath6 and Manjusha Pandey @MPandey40122 whose response has tarnished the image of #India
This could impact the ties b/w both countries #KIIT must take stringent action else the voice will echo to the greatest extent possible pic.twitter.com/M0GrYyYvRC
— Dhanshika007 (@Dhanshika0001) February 18, 2025
Additionally, the university confirmed the suspension of three officials, including two hostel staffers and a security official, implicated in the incident. Among those involved were Manjusha Pandey, an Associate Professor at the School of Computer Engineering, and Jayanti Nath, the Joint Director of the Girls’ Hostel & Student Affairs. Manjusha later apologized in a video posted on social media.
“Do not insult the founder of this university. The man (owner) is feeding 40,000 students for free. Such an amount would even be more than your country’s entire budget,” the two KIIT teachers can be heard saying in the clip. The two teachers making the racist remarks at the Nepali students have now been identified as Associate Professor Manjusha Pandey and Jayanti Nath, Joint Director Girls’ Hostels and Students Affairs.
When the university sent a letter this morning requesting that all Nepali students leave the campus as soon as possible, the situation got even worse. According to other accounts, buses carrying a number of Nepali students were told to head home, but they were not given tickets or lodging when they left for the Cuttack railway station.
In an official statement, KIIT expressed its dismay over the unfortunate events and the behavior of its staff, which it described as irresponsible and contrary to the institution’s values of inclusivity and respect. The administration clarified that the comments made by the staff were personal and impulsive, emphasizing that such actions were not condoned by the university.
@MEAIndia@PM_nepal_@DrSJaishankar@PMOIndia@MofaNepal@IndiaInNepal@EONIndia pic.twitter.com/zPsRL0wNm8
— Jayanti Nath (@JayantiNath6) February 18, 2025