1. NEHU students’ indefinite hunger strike entered its fourth day, prompting faculty to seek Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar’s intervention.
2. Protests involving around 5,000 students have disrupted university operations.
3. Students demand the removal of Vice-Chancellor PS Shukla, along with the registrar and deputy registrar.
Shilling, Nov 09: As the indefinite hunger strike and protest by North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) students entered its fourth day, faculty members called on Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar to step in and help resolve the crisis.
The protests involving nearly 5,000 students have disrupted operations across the campus. Students have been staging a hunger strike outside the office of NEHU Vice-Chancellor PS Shukla, demanding his removal along with the ouster of the registrar and deputy registrar, among other officials. As part of the demonstration, students also burned effigies of these officials.
Prof. Lakhon Kma, president of the North Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), reported that faculty members met with Governor Vijayashankar to brief him on the unrest.
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In response, the Governor, who serves as the chief rector of NEHU, expressed concern over the students’ protests and urged them to return to their classes. He further directed faculty and staff to submit recommendations to help resolve the standoff.
Prof. Kma highlighted the deep-seated loss of confidence in Vice-Chancellor Shukla’s leadership, with students, teachers, and non-teaching staff united in demanding his removal.
One of the students’ main demands is the appointment of a Pro Vice-Chancellor for NEHU’s Tura campus. Addressing this, VC Shukla announced plans to appoint a Pro VC for both the Tura and Shillong campuses by the end of the month, according to university ordinances.
Vice-Chancellor Shukla also directly appealed to the students, asking them to engage in dialogue to resolve the issue. “I earnestly request the students, through the media, to end the hunger strike and work with us on solutions. Without dialogue, my hands are tied,” he stated, expressing concern for their health.
The tension at NEHU arose from unaddressed demands made by the North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU), which included the removal of top officials, the appointment of a Pro VC in Tura, and the timely conduct of PGSU elections.
As the protests intensified, students declared a complete lockdown of the university campus.
