Shillong: Security personnel deployed at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) were withdrawn following strong opposition from students who protested their presence on campus.
The deployment came in the wake of an alleged assault on a faculty member, which has since sparked controversy and unrest within the university community.
The incident that triggered the security action involved Assistant Professor Alok Singh from the Hindi department, who was reportedly assaulted by Sandy Sohtun, president of the North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU).
However, the large-scale deployment was met with resistance from students who questioned the necessity and scale of the response.
The students confronted magistrates stationed on campus, expressing concerns about an atmosphere of intimidation created by the armed presence.
Many students voiced their discomfort, telling reporters that the Acting Vice-Chancellor had not formally requested such a heavy security presence.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, clarified that the deployment was made solely for security reasons in light of the recent assault.
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The deployment was also criticised by the Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA), which called it “unprecedented and unwarranted” in the context of a university environment.
NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun was subsequently arrested, but the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) strongly condemned the action, claiming that Sohtun had been wrongfully accused by the professor.
