Dimapur, September 13 (MExN): The issue of North Eastern people being discriminated in other states of India has once again surfaced to the crest. After yet another unfaithful incident on 28 August, 28 Naga theological students were sent back home from Calcutta Bible Seminary, Kolkata.
The unfortunate happening began with the unbecoming act of the Director of the Theological Institute, Suresh Rajan in manhandling his own student Benjamin Solo from Mizoram for no rhyme or reason. V. Anshely Sumi Executive Director Aloino centre revealed that ‘the Director of the Institute Suresh Rajan manhandled his student Benjamin Solo from Mizoram inside the college library in front of the Librarian and Acting Principal resulting in head injury.’
Benjamin sought for filing FIR at the nearby Airport Police station but was refused on the ground that it was a religious matter to be settled between the accuser and the accused. It was later learnt that the police were handsomely bribed by the Director and the Administrator and Suresh Rajan. Moreover, V. Anshely Sumi said that ‘they had issued a letter to the police making false allegations that most of the students who come from the North East India are orphans, using drugs, have antisocial mindset, and are misreporting the entire incident. (Copy of the letter is available).’
All the students of the Seminary except the Tamil students resorted to hunger strike demanding for justice. In the process two students had to be taken to hospital. The Director then issued an ultimatum to the students to vacate the seminary within 24 hours. The students had to immediately leave the college campus and travel back home resulting in untold hardship and torture in the middle of the academic session.
The Director Suresh Rajan and his wife Grace Rajan the Administrator comes from Tamil Nadu, India. The total strength of the students is 130 out of which there are 11 students from Tamil Nadu, 28 students from Nagaland and rest of the students from Mizoram, Bengal, Jharkhand etc. Calcutta Bible Seminary is sponsored by Evangelical Church of India (ECI) with its headquarters at Chennai.
Aloino centre has condemned such ‘immature childish actions of a leader vested with authority who defame the otherwise dignified role of church leader involved in ministry in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.’ “What is surprising here is the attitude of the college Director and Administrator in the whole incident towards the students from North East India. How can a theological Institute harbor such regional bias towards a particular region when we confess to be one in Christ?” V. Anshely Sumi said in the statement.
The entire incident has led in one big question as to what will be the fate of all those students who had been sent home in the middle of the academic session because of the impulsive decision of entrusted responsible leaders over one such incident.
