Amid stalemate in Cachar College, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu assures solution

Amid week-long stalemate in Cachar College over the agitation by the teaching fraternity demanding the removal of the Principal
Amid stalemate in Cachar College, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu assures solution

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Amid week-long stalemate in Cachar College over the agitation by the teaching fraternity demanding the removal of the Principal, Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu said, the government would now take step to restore normalcy in this premier institute. Sit-in protest by the teachers of college entered seventh day on Wednesday. Colleagues from other colleges of Barak Valley joined the demonstration. However till now neither the local administration nor the governing body of the college had taken any initiative to end the stalemate.

Surprisingly local MP Dr Rajdeep Roy also seemed to distance himself from the episode which culminated on September 21 when a group of students allegedly threatened the teachers who were inside the chamber of the Principal Dr. Siddhartha Shankar Nath to discuss on the 22 point memorandum that had been submitted 15 days ago demanding rectifying steps by him. Teachers lodged an FIR against four students who were detained by the police and later were allowed to go home on conditions. On the following day, the teachers under the banner of Assam College Teachers' Association resorted to sit-in inside the college premises alleging that Dr. Nath had instigated the student group to flex muscles to make the teachers silent.

Meanwhile, last Monday, Silchar Circle Officer Kumar Gaurab Das went to Cachar College to record statements of all the parties. Though teachers handed over their written statements, Dr Nath significantly sent a leave application at around 1 pm. Police on the other hand stated that they were investigation the incident.

Dr Ranoj Pegu, who reached Silchar on Tuesday on a three-day visit for his party's assignment, said, the government was aware of the development of Cachar College and soon would take step to pull curtains on the stalemate. Pegu said, the Director of Higher Education had already submitted his report on the incident which took place on August 21 during the written examination for the posts of Grade III and Grade IV. Principal Nath was picked by police and detained in Silchar Sadar thana late night on the basis of an FIR lodged by the Deputy Commissioner alleging dereliction of duty by the Principal. Recently in the Assembly, Dr Pegu while answering a question by Congress MLA Kamalakha Dey Purkayastha, said, Principal Nath failed to discharge his duty during such important examination. Here in Silchar while interacting with the mediapersons, Dr Pegu however dodged a clear reply on the episode as he said the DHE had submitted his report and government would take steps accordingly.

Meanwhile for Assam University Vice Chancellor Prof Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, who was also a teacher of Cachar College said, both the principal and the teachers to shun their egos and immediately to restore normalcy in the college. If needed, he was ready to meditate, he added.

Barak Valley chapter of Assam College Principal Council came forward to end the stalemate but the meeting with the ACTA delegates did not yield any positive result. In the meeting, held at Silchar Women's College, teachers informed the Principal Council that since ACTA central committee had been steering the agitation hence decision could be taken only after discussing with the central leaders.

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