IT News
Imphal, July 13:
Dhanamanjuri University students who have been sitting on hunger strike were picked up last night by the police and later released. The move to detain the students came after the intensification of the protest supported by the teachers’ union and the alumni association, demanding the appointment of a regular Vice-Chancellor (VC), registrar, controller of examination, and other key officials.
According to sources, the students who were sitting on the hunger strike, which started on June 9, were picked up by the police around 11 PM. The students said “they were told to sign some documents, but they refused. The police later released them.” The DMSU has decided to continue with the hunger strike.
The students said that the responsibility should be borne by the DMU authorities. “There is a notification that a Vice-Chancellor (VC) is going to be appointed. However, the registrar in charge, Nivedita Lairenlakpam, is still in her position. She needs to be replaced with a regular registrar. She never comes to the university; she never sits here. We cannot meet her here. So, we have to go to the secretariat to meet her,” the students said.
Given the lack of a regular VC and other officials and staff, the university has been listed on the UGC’s defaulter’s list. Moreover, DMU’s semester examinations have not been held on time, preventing students from taking admission to other universities despite clearing entrance examinations. Registrar in charge, Nivedita Lairenlakpam, has written to the registrar of Manipur University urging for more time so that DMU students can get admission to MU.
Students have said that when they go to seek admission at MU, “the officials there reject them, saying that their semester exams at DMU have not been held. How can they get admission to Manipur University?”
Moreover, regarding the announcement by the education minister Th. Basanta that all the key positions will be filled, the students said “there is nothing in writing. They have approached everyone, including him. They have been given assurances but no action has been taken.” They need appointments to be made as soon as possible otherwise there will not be any compromise, the students have said.
