Our Correspondent
Haflong: The Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU), in collaboration with various apex bodies, college student unions, student associations, and NGOs, staged a sit-in demonstration (dharna) in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Haflong on Friday. Despite incessant rain and stormy weather, hundreds of students and members from different organizations participated in the protest to press for an eight-point charter of demands.
The demonstrators demanded the blacklisting of M/s Elite Agency, the construction company involved in the Polytechnic College and KGBV Diyungbra projects, as well as M/s Northeast Plantations & Commercials Pvt. Ltd, Guwahati. They also called for the immediate functioning of the Polytechnic College at Choto Wapu, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on October 28, 2023.
Among other demands were the formation of an enquiry committee to investigate the irregularities in Polytechnic College Package No. Poly 17 and the establishment of two CUET examination centres in Dima Hasao district. The protesters also urged the immediate establishment and commencement of all professional and advanced institutions announced for the district during the Assam Budget Session. Additionally, they demanded the speedy completion of the APSC Training Centre at Umrangso and the declaration of a university campus at Haflong.
Speaking to the media, Pramith Sengyung, general secretary of the DSU, said that although the students were initially hesitant to take to the streets, years of deprivation and negligence towards the educational needs of Dima Hasao had left them with no choice. He expressed hope that the concerned authorities would take the demands seriously and act promptly. Otherwise, he warned, the students would be compelled to continue democratic agitation until their genuine demands are fulfilled.
Arup Gorlosa, vice president of Jadikhe Naisho Hosom, extended full support to the student community. He stated that the demands raised by the students were valid and that everyone should stand in solidarity with them to build a healthy and educated society in the district.
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