After Manipur, Bodoland University Students in Assam Demand VC’s Ouster

The tension brewing in Manipur University, has now festered to the neighbouring state of Assam as well. Students of Bodoland University in Western Assam’s Kokrajhar district have been on strike since September 20, demanding the ouster of Vice Chancellor Hemanta K Baruah and filling up of vacant posts in teaching and non-teaching departments.

In Eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh University, too, four teachers have submitted their resignation to protest a notification related to an academic reorganisation committee by VC Ranjit Tamuli without the consent of the deans.

While the Dibrugarh University issue is expected to be settled, as the VC has declined to accept the resignation, the Bodoland University impasse is far from over.

Swgwmsar Basumatary, president of the Bodoland Students’ Union, said that the strike would continue until Governor Jagdish Mukhi – also the chancellor of the university – and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal intervene.

“In five years, the present VC has done nothing for the university. We want him replaced by someone who cares about the students, and ensures a good academic atmosphere,” said Basumatary.

According to reports, on Tuesday, Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Niranjan Baruah and Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh visited the university to meet the agitating students. “We told them to lift the agitation as members of a high-level committee would visit the university from September 28-30,” said Singh.

The Bodoland University Teachers’ Association, too, has appealed to the state government and the governor to help find a solution in the interest of the students and the institution. Meanwhile, students and faculty members, who were unceremoniously arrested by the Manipur Police, remain under judicial custody for the seventh day now.

Manipur Varsity Simmers

Manipur University remains under constant police surveillance, and support has been pouring in from various groups condemning the arrests and the attitude of the state’s CM Biren Singh-led BJP Government. In the Capital, the North East Federation of International Solidarity (NEFIS) organised a protest in Delhi University’s Faculty of Arts over the same on September 26, where students and faculty members of the Delhi University and various teachers and Students’ Unions like Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Students’ Association (AISA), Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) collectively condemned the midnight raids, and demanded unconditional and immediate release of the arrested students and the faculty member of Manipur University.

Meanwhile, there are reports that a few students on hunger strike in Manipur University have been hospitalised while there is no sign of normalcy in the varsity. A video has also been circulating on social media of a women’s organisation leader who was stopped by Manipur Police at the main gate of Manipur University preventing her from meeting the students in the campus who are on hunger strike.

Residents, requesting strict anonymity, have alleged that the CM, who has otherwise been silent on the whole issue, has threatened shop owners and public vehicle owners to cancel their license if they support the call for 48-hours general strike starting from midnight today

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Manipur High Court to take up a petition filed by suspended VC Adya Prasad Pandey after hearing a special leave petition filed by him on September 10.