Shillong: Vice-Chancellor of Meghalaya’s North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prabha Shankar Shukla, who is presently on leave, has requested the Central government to provide adequate security to facilitate his return to the campus on December 2.
Shukla also requested the Centre to take immediate action to address the alarming situation at the university.
In a letter to the Principal Secretary of Higher Education, VC Shukla said, “In light of the prevailing conditions on the NEHU campus, I kindly request adequate security support from the Central Government, as the security provided by the State Government has been insufficient. This deployment will not only ensure my safety but will also contribute to the overall security of the NEHU campus and its employees.”
He also stated that the ongoing protests by the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), under the leadership of Prof. Lakhon Kma, have caused severe disruptions on the campus since October 25.
“NEHUTA created a hooligan just before the start of the 113th meeting of the Academic Council on 25th Oct 2024, thereby not allowing the meeting of the Academic Council. After that, they forcefully entered the office of Registrar and Dy. Registrar thrashed them out and locked their respective offices. They also entered forcefully into the office of the VC, threatening me with the demand for immediate termination of the Registrar and Dy. Registrar,” Shukla stated.
He further added, “None of the group has given me any representation/complaint in writing to explain the reason for the removal of both officers. Nevertheless, I tried to explain the official procedures to them and assured them that I would initiate appropriate action to resolve the matter and deflate the situation.”
The VC said that he had also appointed a Pro-VC for each NEHU campus in compliance with their request.
“Despite my best efforts to meet and discuss and come to a solution, NEHUSU and NEHUTA escalated the agitation in the form of a hunger strike in front of the VC office, and blocked all the entrance gates of the University,” he stated in the letter.
He added, “I informed the local administration about the events, including the DC and SP, along with the DGP and Chief Secretary of the State, and sought their help in ensuring the safety of the NEHU campus. Despite that, the two Associations assaulted me and threatened me by attacking my official residence.”
The unrest caused by both Associations has brought NEHU to a ‘standstill’. Employees, feeling unsafe, are unable to perform their duties, creating a climate of fear and disrupting the institution’s operations, he said.
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Shukla stated, “It has come to my attention that certain miscreants from various associations of the university, through the in charge vice chancellor, are unlawfully managing campus operations, daily life, and issuing unauthorized orders and circulars.”
