Shillong, April 26: NEHU Vice Chancellor PS Shukla has urged the state government to deploy sufficient police personnel at the Shillong Campus for the safety and security of teachers and administrative staff.
Shukla held an online meeting with the NEHU faculty on Saturday to condemn the incident of assault on Professor of Hindi department Alok Singh at the Shillong campus by some members of the students’ union.
The meeting was attended by a large number of teachers including Deans, Heads of Departments, Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors from Shillong and Tura campuses.
Vice Chancellor, in his address, dwelt on the incident and deplored torture of the teacher including use of sharp object which was placed on his neck and cited collapse of law-and-order situation.
He recalled another incident when official residence of Vice Chancellor was vandalised on the night of November 10, 2024.
While condemning the incident, Shukla expressed solidarity with the teachers and appealed to them to remain strong and united while assuring them their safety and dignity.
According to Shukla, he was in contact
with higher authorities, including ministers-both at the Centre and the state , to press for stringent security measures to ensure an atmosphere of peace, dignity and respect devoid of fear and acts of violence. The Vice Chancellor also warned the miscreants of strict action.
During the meeting, many teachers gave valuable suggestions for betterment of the university.
Prof. Fameline K Marak, Pro Vice Chancellor Tura Campus said all teachers at Tura Campus are united in condemning the incident and on behalf of entire Tura Campus, she had already issued a statement
Prof. Sujata Gurudev, former Campus Director, Tura also condemned the incident, affirmed her faith in cordial atmosphere at Tura Campus.
From Shillong Campus, one of the professors wondered as to how safety and security of teachers be assured at Shillong Campus as there were many violent incidents.
He also asked the Vice Chancellor to request the central government for deployment of CAPF. Many others also expressed their views in support of CAPF deployment at the campus.
The Vice Chancellor invited various NEHU unions for a constructive discussion to find a solution to the ongoing problem within the legal framework of the university.
The Vice Chancellor thanked all participants for their valuable time and suggestions. He acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of Professors C. A. Mawlong, Streamlet Dkhar, Khongsdier, Jemino Mawthoh, FR. Sumer, Moses Naga, B. Mohapatra, B. Panda, H. K. Mishra, Arvind Kumar Singh and all deans and other professors for their valuable suggestions and cooperation from time to time. He also thanked Prof. S.M. Sungoh, Pro Vice Chancellor, Shillong Campus and Prof. S. Umdor, in-charge of Finance and Examination departments, and all others who are going through a very difficult phase in ensuring that academic activities in NEHU are continued without disruptions.
Full statement of NEHUTA
The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) strongly condemns the
purported physical attack on Dr. Alok Singh, an Assistant Professor at the Dept. of Hindi,
NEHU, Shillong. He was allegedly assaulted in his chamber during working hours which is
very shocking and the NEHUTA demands from the University authority appropriate action
against those who assaulted Dr. Singh. The Association is deeply concerned and shares the pain and trauma created by such an incident not only to him but also to the entire teaching fraternity.
In an otherwise secure NEHU campus, assault on one of our esteemed members sends a wrong signal and we, as an Association stand for its peaceful resolution so that such a thing is never repeated in the sacrosanct academic space of higher learning and research that NEHU is known for.
We are also very concerned that some actors remotely connected to NEHU are bolstered by
such an unfortunate incident and making all attempts to create enmity in the campus by staying put outside NEHU’s jurisdiction. Stakeholders of NEHU and the Associations shall do its utmost to uphold the sanctity of offices and campuses from outside disruptors who are abusing power to destabilize NEHU. We would be more concerned if such destabilizing actors find a foothold
through such unfortunate incident of assault on Dr. Singh.
In the true spirit of democracy, the NEHUTA believes that no one can suppress voices of dissent and one’s own right to practice his conscience in the university, howsoever mighty and powerful they are. As teachers of the University, we shall keep resisting falsehoods, avatars of division and sectarianism and shall practise lofty academic ideals of teaching and research
inside and outside the classrooms.
In this context, the NEHUTA urges upon university authorities to initiate due process of
investigation on the matter and adopt all immediate measures to ensure that Dr. Singh gets justice and such unfortunate incidents are never repeated in the university. This incident is the first of its kind in decades and hopefully the last one and the entire NEHU teaching fraternity has to unite to protect our university. While discharging our duties as teachers, we will continue to conduct ourselves with utmost integrity, honesty and sincerity as expected from us.
Sd-
Prof. Lakhon Kma , President
Dr. Marbhador M. Khymdeit
General Secretary
