Guwahati, Feb 28: The arrest of University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque has triggered a political and academic storm, with widespread reactions from educators and students.
Hoque, who was taken into custody over alleged examination fraud, was brought back to Sribhumi (formerly Karimganj) on Friday evening, even as the Gauhati High Court heard his bail petition. The court is set to deliver its verdict on the first petition on March 3, while a second bail plea will be filed on Monday.
Hoque and another teacher, Numaan Ahmed, were transferred to Guwahati from Karimganj on Thursday night and lodged at Dispur Police Station. The authorities attempted to take Hoque to USTM for document verification but were reportedly unable to secure clearance from the Ri-Bhoi district police in Meghalaya.
Hoque, along with five other teachers, was arrested following an FIR lodged by a circle officer alleging that student promotions were granted in exchange for bribes. Those arrested include Hiramani Saikia, Principal, Central Public School; Vijay Dutta, Rezak Ali, and Imdadur Rahman (Teachers).
The arrests have provoked strong reactions from academic circles in Meghalaya and Assam. Hundreds of USTM students and faculty members gathered at Dispur Police Station on Friday, prompting a heavy police and paramilitary deployment.
The controversy deepened after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that Hoque would face a long jail term. His remarks sparked outrage, with critics arguing that the statement undermines the judicial process.
Meghalaya-based commentator Goera Pantora Cherian Momin took to social media to denounce Sarma’s remarks, accusing him of acting as “judge, jury, and executioner.”
“This is not governance—this is political persecution,” Sangma wrote, questioning the timing, manner, and lack of prior investigation leading to Hoque’s arrest. He emphasized that USTM, an NAAC A-graded university ranked among India’s top 200 by NIRF, has never faced allegations of fraud before.
Critics argue that Hoque’s midnight arrest resembled a high-profile criminal crackdown rather than a standard legal procedure. They have called for concrete evidence linking him to the alleged fraud, pointing out the absence of official complaints from affected students.
The Meghalaya government has reaffirmed its support for USTM, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang emphasizing that the university is a UGC-accredited institution in good standing. They questioned Assam’s jurisdiction over a university outside its state borders.
The incident has raised concerns about political interference in independent educational institutions. Supporters argue that the case is not just about one individual but about safeguarding the autonomy of academic institutions from political pressure.
