Guwahati/Shillong: The Assam University Students’ Union (AUSU) and the Post Graduate Students’ Union (PGSU) of Gauhati University have strongly condemned the recent assault on Dr. Alok Kumar Singh, a faculty member from the Department of Hindi at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), calling it a grave attack on academic freedom and institutional integrity.
According to reports, Singh was physically assaulted inside his office chamber on April 24, allegedly by the President of NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and his associates.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across student bodies in the region.
AUSU described the attack as “an attempt to murder” and said it amounted to an assault not just on an individual but on the entire academic community in Northeast India.
“This act of violence reflects poorly on student leadership and undermines the role of student unions as role models in the academic ecosystem,” AUSU said in a statement.
The union has called for immediate arrest and prosecution of the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), urging authorities to act within a fixed timeframe.
AUSU also expressed solidarity with the NEHU faculty during what it called a time of “anguish and distress.”
The union further warned that any effort to destabilise academic institutions or disrupt the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will not be tolerated.
“If timely action is not taken, we will be compelled to pursue further steps to protect the academic environment at NEHU,” AUSU added.
Echoing these sentiments, the Post Graduate Students’ Union (PGSU) of Gauhati University expressed deep concern over the incident, highlighting the broader implications for campus security and governance.
“We hold the teaching community in the highest esteem and view such violence as an attack on the values that uphold our education system,” the PGSU stated.
PGSU also criticised the alleged interference of NEHUSU in campus administration and control over entry points, expressing concern about the deteriorating law and order situation at NEHU.
It cited the earlier incident of vandalism at the Vice-Chancellor’s official residence on November 11, 2024, and criticized the lack of accountability.
“Criminal acts and vandalism have no place in student activism. We demand immediate legal action and appropriate punishment for all those involved,” the PGSU said, adding that if authorities fail to act, they may be forced to intervene to safeguard the academic framework.
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Both unions called for responsible leadership and governmental intervention to restore order and ensure the uninterrupted implementation of NEP 2020.
They emphasised the need for democratic student engagement grounded in morality, ethics, and national unity—free from regional or communal biases.
