Protesting students to hold sit-in strike on weekdays
Shillong, Nov 20: Following intense pressure from various quarters, the agitating NEHU students have decided to suspend their indefinite hunger strike but would continue to stall operations of the university, including the classes.
Making the announcement on 16th day of their hunger strike North Easter Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) president Sandy Sohtun said the university would remain closed and classes would remain suspended since the key demand for removal of the vice-chancellor Prof PS Shukla was yet to be fulfilled.
The protesting students will stage sit-in protest on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm in front of the VC’s office.
“We will not move from this place until and unless our demands are fulfilled… We will wait for report of the committee constituted by the Ministry of Education. But if the Ministry fails to take appropriate action… we will resume the hunger strike or other measures,” he said.
Earlier, NEHUSU allowed opening of HoDs and Deans’ chambers to help students complete certificate and scholarships works.
The students led by NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU unit have been on a hunger strike protest demanding removal of the vice-chancellor PS Shukla, registrar and deputy registrar of the university.
“We won’t allow Prof Shukla to enter this university of ours,” Sohtun declared.
The suspension of the hunger strike is seen as a first success of the in-charge VC Prof Nirmalendu Saha in ending the two-week-long hunger strike.
He had earlier held discussions with key stakeholders, including NEHUSU, NEHU Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), and NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA).
He had also indicated that semester-end exams of the odd semesters might be postponed till February next year.
The NEHUSU president said the decision to suspend hunger strike was taken considering requests from teachers, staff, and the doctor (attending ailing students).
“We have seen that the health of our members, who have been starving for 16 days, has been deteriorating,” he said.
The agitating students were offered soup and fruits to formally break their hunger strike.
