Manipur University news updates: BHU council mulls suspending AP Pandey from university over MU raid controversy

Slogans against V-C AP Pandey

Slogans such as ‘The End. A.P Pandey’ and ‘Remove AP Pandey’ could be seen spraypainted across the Manipur University campus. 

Security officials came to hostel around 1 am in riot gear, fired tear gas shells at students, says student

Here is a first person account, from a student present on campus and who requested anonymity, of what happened on Thursday midnight when security personnel entered Manipur University and arrested nearly 100 students and faculty members:

“I had just given the first paper of my final semester examination. I had dinner at around 9 pm after which I was in my hostel room, preparing for the second exam which was scheduled for today (Friday). At around 1 am, I heard noises from outside my room. When I stepped out, I saw many of my hostel mates moving towards the ground floor. When I looked down, I saw police officials, fully armed, arguing with students. I went to the ground floor myself where the police were saying that they wanted to search our hostel as they were looking for particular students. We, along with our warden, questioned the police as to why they were doing this at 1.30 am.

We told them that we have an exam scheduled for the next day and that they are free to do what they want when there is daylight. There were at least 40 officials inside my hostel. Our hostel complex has five hostels with a lawn in the middle. I could see that  the police had entered all the hostels and close to 400 of them had occupied the lawns. I don’t know if there were any other paramilitary officials as it was dark but they were all in riot gear. The hostel complex is more than a kilometre from the central gate of the University. When we asked them how they entered the university premises and if they’ve permission from the Registrar, they said they’ve all the orders required. But they didn’t show us any papers.

While talks were ongoing to arrive at a solution, out of nowhere, a tear gas shell was fired in the direction of my hostel. This caused panic and some of the students ran out. I ran towards the lawn when a shell hit my right arm. I tripped and fell down. As I was trying to pick myself up, I saw more tear gas shells being fired and students running around in panic. I made my way back to my hostel. We locked ourselves up in different rooms but had to open when the police officials came. They would ask us if we knew the whereabouts of certain students. Even if we said no, they would repeat the search process after an hour. Every hour, we checked if they’ve left the hostel premises but they still haven’t. At 7 am, as my fingers were bleeding from coming in contact with the tear gas shell, I went along with a friend to the university hospital. On my way to and back, I saw that police officials have spread themselves out across the university and their numbers had increased. They are still here, as we speak. We are trying to confine ourselves to our rooms as every time we step out we are being questioned.”

Midnight raids were ‘undemocratic’, says Congress leader and ex-CM Okram Ibobi Singh 

In a press conference that was conducted by the Congress, ex-chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh said the incident that took place on Thursday night at the Manipur University is undemocratic. He said that the Congress party will not stand as a mute spectator. In order to bring about a state of normalcy, the government should release the students and the teachers they picked up on Thursday night, he said. He also added that a proper channel of dialogue between the government, the university authorities and the student and teacher’s body should be initiated.

Input by D Devchandra Sharma/101 Reporters

Yugindro Singh takes over as V-C in-charge; midnight raids conducted after he filed FIR

Vice Chancellor in-charge, Professor K Yugindro Singh and Registrar in-charge Shyam Kesho arrived at the university late morning on Thursday. They were forced to sign an apology letter by the MU Students Union, the MU Teachers Union and the MU Staff Association. The apology letter said that they regretted acting against the interests of the university. Later, based on the FIR they filed at the Singjamei police station, the raid was conducted on Thursday night.

Input by Armstrong/101 Reporters

Image courtesy: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum (roving reporter)

Police intervened due to breakdown of law and order on campus, says Manipur govt

Speaking to Firstpost, Manipur education minister Thokchom Radheshyam said the government wanted classes to run smoothly but the police had to intervene due to breakdown of law and order, which resulted in some violence.

“We want to have a peaceful atmosphere in the university. We want the classes to run smoothly. The police had to intervene because there was a breakdown of law and order situation due to some miscreants. There was some violence. We are in touch with the Central government. The V-C will be able to give a better picture. I cannot comment when total normalcy will be restored but as of now, the situation is peaceful in the campus,” he said.

BHU executive council mulls suspending AP Pandey from university

According to the highly placed sources in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the executive council is now contemplating suspending AP Pandey from the university. The decision is being taken in view of controversies surrounding Pandey. The next meeting of the executive coucil is scheduled to be held in the last week of this month. Pandey is a professor in economics department of the BHU and was sent to Manipur university on deputation.

Input by Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters.

Need to take action to restore normalcy, says Registrar in-charge Shyam Kesho

“If you don’t take any action… when I say action, I don’t mean action against students… but unless we don’t take up official procedure, how long will the university remain as how it was before yesterday’s events? There was a huge confusion amid the general public as to whom to cooperate with,” Registrar in-charge Shyam Kesho said.

Vice-Chancellor’s office being broke open

Pro V-C Yugindro Singh says MUTA leaders harassed him on Thursday

Claiming that he was harassed and grilled by Manipur University Teachers Association (MUTA) leaders on Thursday, Manipur University’s Pro V-C Yugindro Singh said, “Yesterday, for the first time in my long service in the university, I had a terrible time at the hands of some MUTA leaders and some student leaders. They confined me, harassed me and forced me to sign a printed paper. I signed it just to escape the spot. I was detained for about two hours. I had a very difficult time. They locked the rooms.”

With Manipur’s complex insurgency history, can’t expect AP Pandey to learn state’s nuances

Plagued by insurgency for about half-a-century, there are about 200 armed militant groups operating in Manipur, each with its own plethora of demands and different modes and methods of meeting financial requirements.

This is broadly to also say that there are numerous big, medium and small functional power centres in the state where a person not familiar with the rough and tough of Manipur’s melting pot will take a lot of time to understand, comprehend, analyse and then to act. Parachuting V-C AP Pandey from Varanasi and expecting him to learn the complexities and nuances of Manipur’s society in a very short period of time in itself was a bad idea.

Pandey received demand for Rs 5 cr from insurgent outfits 

AP Pandey’s experience in Imphal not been particularly delightful. In February, he received a Rs 5 crore demand notice from one of the insurgent outfits. “From where do I get that kind of money?” he asks.

Asked about the allegations against him, Pandey says: “I had streamlined the financial and administrative processes and started the process of tendering for various works. This ruffled many feathers who instigated the civic organisations and students.”

Varsity professor claims V-C AP Pandey was out of station for more than 6 months

According to Professor Amar Yumnam, the head of the university’s economics department: “From November 2016 to May 2018, Professor Pandey has been out of station for more than six months. His absolute non-commitment to the university is also exemplified by the fact that he attends office only after 12.30 pm if he in station. The mandated court meetings, executive council meetings, academic council meetings, finance committee meetings, nothing has been held as mandated”.

“If that is not enough, he has been making expenses without approval as exemplified by the purchase of smart class rooms from a firm in Uttar Pradesh or the examination of answer scripts at excessive prices.”

Six professors in police custody

The professors who are in police custody are Sh Dorendrajit Singh, Ch Yashowanta, L Sanjukumar Sigh, L Biswanath Sharma, Y Raghumani Singh, N Sanatomba.

Input by Reena Nongmaithem/101Reporters

AP Pandey appointed as Manipur University V-C in October 2016

Professor Pandey was appointed the university’s V-C in October 2016, two years after the BJP-led NDA government swept to power in a landslide verdict in the country. Less than a year later, the BJP wrested power from the Congress in the border state with Nongthombam Biren Singh being sworn in as Manipur’s first ever BJP chief minister.

Manipur University is not new to controversies

Controversies and agitations are not new to Manipur University. Before Professor AP Pandey’s appointment, there was a raging controversy over a decision to reduce the reservation of seats for the state’s tribal students from 31 percent to 7.5 percent. The appointment of Pandey was intended to have a balming effect. That move has seemingly misfired badly.

V-C was not home when peon went to deliver enquiry committee’s summon letter, say local reporters

A two-member independent committee, which was instituted by the HRD ministry to probe into the alleged administrative and financial irregularities of Pandey had started working on 6 September. The enquiry committee which had asked all stakeholders to submit relevant details till 16 September had extended the deadline till 24 September. Justice (retired) T Nandakumar is the head of the committee while Professor MK Choudhury is the member.

According to local reporters, when the peon went to deliver the summon letter, no one was present at the V-C’s residence to accept the letter. He left the letter at the doorstep.

89 students, six professors detained at different police stations 

Jogeshchandra Haobam, Imphal West SP, has confirmed that 89 students and 6 professors have been detained at different police stations namely the Imphal police station, the Singjamei police station and the Lamphel police station. They will be produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate Imphal West on Friday.

Input by Armstrong/ 101 Reporters

WATCH: ‘State govt protecting Pandey,’ says MUSU general secretary Laishram Kendy

In a video message, Manipur University Students Union general secretary Laishram Kendy claimed that more than 100 students and faculty members were taken into police custody on Thursday midnight. When students asked for a reason, security officials offered none, and said they could do whatever they want, claimed Kendy. Here is the full transcription of the message:  

“On the midnight of 20 September, 2018, around 12.30 am a huge number of state forces entered the Manipur University campus terrorising students especially in the boys’ hostels in an attempt to arrest them en masse. The incident was unfortunate and uncalled for. No reason was stated for the attempt and when students inquired, the police bluntly responded that they are under no obligation to give any reason(s) for the arrest and they are going to do what ever they want. After such a blunt statement from the police, the students resisted the arrest attempt. Afterwards, the police unleashed their brutality, kicking doors and firing tear gas inside the hostel directly. 

It has come to our knowledge that more than 100 students have been under police custody with around 10 facult members, including the current V-C in-charge Professor Vishwanath.

What I want to say is that, it is not going to be a groundless claim that the state government is protecting AP Pandey, and by arresting the agitating students and teachers they are is trying to manipulate the files inside the academic block, which will serve as Pandey’s hangman’s noose and make the enquiry committee turn in favour of Pandey. A situation has come where saving the university depends on the CSOs, women organisations, students organisations and the masses.  Such atrocities to the university community must be condemned by the people and I also appeal the people to condemn such acts. I am Laishram Kendy, I am currently the general secretary of the Manipur University Students Union. I am currently at an undisclosed location making this video and I cannot tell what will happen to me after this video; that time will tell. Through this video, I wanted to share the accounts of human rights violation inside the university campus and seek help from the masses.”

AP Pandey is first V-C to stay in govt quarters outside Manipur University campus: Local reporters

Local reporters said that V-C AP Pandey is the first V-C in the history of the varsity to be living in government quarters outside the campus, with all his expenses paid for from the Manipur University’s funds. The V-C generally stays on campus.

Silence over Manipur University midnight raids

Several students and faculty members have been arrested by the police. The administration, Army, or even the Manipur government has not issued any statement over Thursday’s raids. Meanwhile, students have not been allowed to leave the campus premises. 

Image: Students were injured as police fired rubber bullets at them last night

WATCH: Police forcefully enters boy’s hostel in Manipur University

A student of the Manipur University, who was an eye witness when the raids were conducted, told Firstpost that the police entered by force and attacked the student hostels, especially the boys’ hostel. The student has requested anonymity.

Manipur University Student’s Union members targetted; students have been taken to Singjamei police station in Imphal

According to sources, around 90 students were whisked away after the raid that took on Thursday night. The police specifically looked for students who were a part of the Manipur University Student’s Union and had taken part in the student agitation, students said. A confrontation between the 90 students and the police personnel broke out in the university premises after which the tear gas and mock bombs were used by the police. The students are said to have been taken to the Singjamei police station in Imphal.

Input by: Armstrong/101 Reporters

Students dragged out from hostels on varsity campus

Input by Rinku Khumukcham/ Imphal Times

Police raid residences of professors inside varsity campus

The police also raided the quarters of faculty members and picked up five of them. Following this, on early Friday morning, the police also raided at some of the residences of professors outside the Manipur University campus.

Security allotted to V-C incharge Professor Vishwanath withdrawn

As per latest reports, security allotted to the V-C in-charge Professor Viswanath has been withdrawn. On Thursday night, students who came out of their hostel were fired upon with rubber bullets and tear gas, mock bombs and charged with baton. Many sustained injuries in the police action.

Midnight raids were pre-planned; conducted after security officials confirmed newspapers had gone to press

The midnight raids at Manipur University on Thursday night were planned in advance. The police team with arms and ammunitions conducted the raid after they confirmed that all newspapers had completed publication. The police did not take permission from the Proctor,  which is mandatory, before conducting the raid. They also, reportedly, humiliated the assistant proctor.

Signature campaign board demanding removal of V-C near varsity entrance gate

Input by Armstrong/101Reporters

V-C AP Pandey close to RSS, BJP, claims Manipur Students’ Association Delhi

Condemning the violence unleashed on the Manipur University campus on Thursday night, Manipur Students’ Association Delhi said V-C AP Pandey had close connections with the RSS and BJP. “This has been done by the BJP and RSS. The V-C is very close to RSS and senior BJP leaders and he is here like a dictator. It is very unfortunate that the central government did not take any step in favor of the students whose examinations are underway. The orders of firing rubber bullets on students and detaining them is very deplorable.  We demand strict actions against the V-C and all responsible persons,” MSAD general secretary Javed Mehedi.

Congress calls midnight raids ‘New Facet of Fascism’

Manipur Congress referred to the midnight raids at the Manipur University as the “new facet of fascism”. About 99 students, and four faculty members were arrested. Several students were injured during the police lathi charge and tear gas attacks. 

Committee probing AP Pandey’s administrative, financial irregularities began work on 6 Sept

A two-member independent committee, which was instituted by the HRD ministry to probe into the alleged administrative and financial irregularities of Pandey had started working on 6 September.

The enquiry committee which had asked all stakeholders to submit relevant details till 16 September had extended the deadline till 24 September. Justice (retired) T Nandakumar is the head of the committee while Professor MK Choudhury is the member.

V-C AP Pandey had no authority to unilaterally appoint Yugindro Singh as Pro V-C, say reports

The Manipur University community is arguing that since as per the Clause 4 of the ‘Statutes of the University, MU Act 2005’, “a pro vice chancellor can only be appointed by the executive council on the  recommendation of the VC, that is, the vice chancellor can’t unilaterally appoint someone as PVC”. Thus, V-C Pandey doesn’t have the legal authority to appoint a PV-C since he was on official leave (without the acceptance his PV-C nominee by the executive council of Manipur University).

Students fractured legs, hit by rubber bullets during police lathi charge 

There are five boys hostel in Manipur University.  Four students from Hostel No. 4 have sustained serious injuries in the incident that took place on Thursday night. N Bharat Bhusan, a student in the sixth semester of Masters in Computer Applications, fractured his right hand and sustained injuries on his right leg while running away from police lathi charge. Another student from Hostel No. 4 E, Priyo Kumar, student of English literature was hit by rubber bullets on arms and he sustained injuries on his legs as well. 

Input by Armstrong/101Reporters

V-C AP Pandey suspended on 17 September

As per the MoA signed by MHRD on 16 August, V-C AP Pandey was suspended on 17 September till the completion of the enquiry against him and thus Pro V-C Singh should take charge in his absence. Pandey had returned from his leave to resume office from 1 September but was asked to extend his leave till 9 September.

Student movement restricted across campus

The mobility of students has been curbed across the Manipur University campus. Students are not being allowed to go anywhere outside their hostel without the permission of the police. They haven’t had access to the hostel mess too.

Input by Armstrong/101Reporters

55 students missing from varsity hostel

Fifty-five students from Hostel No. 5 in Manipur University campus have reportedly been missing since Thursday night.

Input by Sanzu Bachaspati Mayum/101Reporters

Mobile internet suspended in Imphal

As per latest reports, the Manipur government has shut down mobile data service in Imphal area, due to the violence and arrests which took place on the campus of the university on Thursday midnight.

Inpu tby Sanzu Bachaspati Mayum/101Reporters

Students on campus ‘mentally disturbed’ following midnight raids

After 85-days of standoff at the university ended recently, normalcy had returned to the campus in the last few days. However, the midnight raids have rattled the students and the faculty members again. “Students appearing in Thursday’s examination were mentally disturbed and failed to concentrate with the new development. Meanwhile, students who came to take the admission form had to return home as the counter was shut down in protest against the incident,” an Imphal Times report said. Later, a talk was also held between the Pro V-C, registrar in-charge Professor Shyamkesho and the university members.

‘Students being terrorised’, says Twitter user

A Twitter user with the handle @AnibasNimsay tweeted that the central varsity was under attack with students being “paraded” outside their hostels. “Manipur University is under attack and students are being terrorised and arrested by around 200 armed police since midnight. Twenty students including faculty have been arrested. Students are being paraded outside their hostels to identify those waging war against cops,” he said. 

WATCH: Security tightened at Manipur University

The Manipur Police are keeping a tight vigil at the main gate and allowing only a handful of people after intensive questioning.

Input by Armstrong/101Reporters