Shillong, April 29: Meghalaya Police and CRPF personnel were withdrawn from NEHU’s Shillong campus late on Monday night after more than three hours of an animated standoff between students and police, as well as a request by the university’s Acting Vice-Chancellor to the DGP for the withdrawal of security forces from the campus.
The security forces left the campus at around 10.30 PM.
Earlier, the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) had locked the gates of the university for 3 hours, from 6 PM to 9 PM, demanding immediate withdrawal of the police and CRPF personnel. During this period, vehicles were neither allowed to enter nor exit the campus, leading to long queues of vehicles on all the exit roads. At the same time, hundreds of students gathered at the main gate (Gate No. 2) and engaged in heated arguments with the police personnel and the magistrates, demanding them to leave the campus immediately. They questioned the stationing of almost 150 police personnel in the campus.
With the police refusing to relenting, the students announced an indefinite suspension of classes starting Tuesday and vowed to remain outside the gates of the university as long as the security forces remained inside the campus.
The atmosphere in the university was emotionally charged on Monday after police arrested NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun in the morning hours over his alleged involvement in the assault of Dr. Alok Singh, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hindi, inside his office chamber during office hours, last week.
However, after the prolonged standoff and a letter from the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. SM Sungoh to the Meghalaya DGP, citing students feeling intimidated and experiencing fear psychosis within the campus as well as security forces entering the campus without her knowledge, the police personnel were withdrawn.
According to sources, the forces are currently stationed at Mawkynroh police outpost.
Confirming the withdrawal of police forces, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said the forces had been withdrawn as per the request of the Acting VC. “Yes, we have withdrawn as per request of the Acting VC,” he said.
