By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 18: The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) continues to remain on the boil with the indefinite hunger strike called by the NEHUSU and the NEHU unit of the KSU entering its 14th day on Monday.
The agitating students have refused to end their hunger strike until an order is issued for the removal of Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla from the university.
This has forced the university to consider deferring the Post Graduate (PG) and Professional courses examinations to February next year after the winter vacations.
NEHU VC in charge, Prof Nirmalendu Saha on Monday said it is unlikely that they would be able to hold the examinations in December considering the present situation and the total shutdown of classes for the last two weeks.
He said the Academic Council will hold an urgent meeting to finalise the revised academic calendar.
Asserting that his top priority was to restore normalcy in the university, he said he is working to ensure classes and all academic activities resume at the earliest.
“Upon taking charge, my immediate priority has been the well-being of our students, who are the heart and soul of NEHU. I have interacted with the students on several occasions, expressing deep concern for their health and well-being, especially in light of the hunger strike. Despite my best efforts to convince them to call off their strike, I remain hopeful that through dialogue and mutual understanding, a resolution can soon be reached.
“I have been in constant communication with the medical team and doctors monitoring the students on hunger strike. Their health is my greatest worry, and I fervently pray that no serious medical issues arise,” he said in a statement.
Prof Saha said he has conducted extensive meetings with NEHUSU, NEHUTA, and NEHUNSA following which the NEHUNSA has agreed to allow certain essential administrative sections to resume operations. “This critical step ensures that scholarships are processed and that academic activities continue without disruption,” he said.
Meanwhile, NEHU’s Chief Medical Officer in charge, Carol Mukhim appealed to the agitating students to call off their indefinite hunger strike as she is concerned about their deteriorating health.
Dr Mukhim said the students cannot continue with the indefinite hunger strike since one after another are being admitted to the hospital. She also said NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun, who was discharged from the hospital, is still in critical condition since he refuses to eat despite being under medication.
“I would appeal to the state government to do something to fulfil their demands. I fear that something regrettable would happen if the students do not end their hunger strike,” she said.
Dr Mukhim said the students can temporarily call off their hunger strike and resume their protest if they are unhappy with the report of the two-member committee.
She said 15 students are fasting and at least one of them is shifted to the hospital every day.
Earlier on Monday, a delegation of the Mawlai Town Dorbar (MTD) met the agitating students on the NEHU campus to appeal to them to call off their indefinite hunger strike. The students insisted on continuing unless they were assured of Prof Shukla’s removal.
MTD president Herlambok War reiterated that the Dorbar will not allow the incumbent VC to enter the university campus.