Meghalaya: NEHU VC holds emergent meeting, vows to crack down on threats to faculties

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: In a determined effort to restore order at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla today held a crucial video conference with faculty members from the university’s camp office in Guwahati, accompanied by NEHU Registrar Omkar Singh. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Shukla disclosed that “one-third of the faculty members were present” in the meeting.

He further alleged that “90% of the faculty members were willing to join this VC but were threatened and stopped by miscreants not to attend it,” underscoring a disturbing pattern of intimidation on campus.

The meeting, convened in the wake of the assault on Hindi lecturer Dr Alok Singh at NEHU’s Shillong campus, saw Prof. Shukla make a stark revelation that “many more such teachers were threatened by miscreants, but it was only Dr Alok Singh who came out and reported the matter.” In response, he announced the formation of a committee to investigate the attack and other incidents of threats, with the objective of identifying the culprits.

Confronting the continuing protests against his leadership, Prof. Shukla affirmed, “I have resumed office and working as the Vice Chancellor of NEHU,” but noted that due to ongoing security concerns, he is “not functioning from the NEHU Shillong and Tura campus” for the time being.

He made it clear that “as soon as the central and state governments provide adequate security, he will start functioning from both campuses.”

Extending an olive branch to the dissenters, Prof. Shukla emphasized his willingness for dialogue, stating that he has “invited the agitating groups to come and discuss the matter on the table.” Reasserting his position at the helm of the university, he firmly stated, “There cannot be any acting VC, and he is the vice chancellor of the university.”

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