Morung Express News
Lumami | June 1
Dissatisfied with the response from the Nagaland University (NU) administration on the harassment and assault meted out to students, staff members and faculty by some miscreants in the Highway between Mokokchung and Nagaland University, Lumami on May 19, the Nagaland University Teacher’s Association, Lumami (NUTA, L) staged a peaceful dharna at NU, Lumami campus, by wearing black ribbons and putting up posters on cars and walls.
According to official reports, some unidentified miscreants halted the university bus and vehicles on May 19. The miscreants allegedly abused the university professors and students, and pelted stones for no known reason.
In a memorandum to the Chief Rector, Nagaland University, the NUTA (L) expressed concern that the miscreants “had the temerity to enter the university campus on May 26, 2016, and threatened individual teacher with dire consequences on the pretext of tendering apology, if complaints against the assault were not withdrawn.” “Such occurrence within the university premises deeply vitiates the academic environment by creating an atmosphere of unrest and anxiety,” it added.
The NUTA (L) lamented that even after eleven days since the incident the miscreants are yet to be apprehended by the concerned authorities. It reminded that the association has written several representations to the Nagaland University authority but no redressal measure has been taken.
“The lackadaisical attitude of the Nagaland University authority and its failure to protect its own students, staff and teachers itself further creates disillusionment among the university community,” the NUTA (L) added.
In protest, the NUTA (L) put up several banners at the Nagaland University – Lumami campus with the phrases: “We are harmless academicians”, “We want security”, “We demand action from authority” etc, which accentuated the displeasure of the academicians who wore black ribbons.
NUTA-L President, Dr Lanusashi, while exhorting the gathered Nagaland University academicians and scholars, asserted that the university belongs to the people and it is our responsibility to make this university grow.
However, he strongly lamented the lackadaisical attitude of the university administration who did not take serious note of the issue even after submission of two representations and meeting the Nagaland University authorities five times.
Dr Lanusashi asserted one point: “We just want things to be very clear…things to be resolved in a very respectable manner.”
The President of the Central Executive Council NUTA, Prof Sangyu, while speaking at the protest, underlined the seriousness of the issue. He informed the gathered academicians and scholars that the Nagaland University Teachers Association of all the three campuses are in solidarity with the NUTA-Lumami.
The PGSU-L President also extended full support to the teaching faculty and added that it would always be with the NUTA whenever any issue about the university arises.
