The Bodoland Students’ Union (BSU) barred a three-member inquiry committee team from entering the Bodoland University campus on Friday. The team had to go back as the agitating students were in “no mood” to allow them to enter.
The inquiry committee was in town to enquire into various allegations of irregularities vis-à-vis administrative matters including appointments, admission and examinations. The three-member enquiry committee was headed by Professor TB Chubba, former Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University, Sikkim, Krishna Gohain, Secretary to the Government of Assam, Higher Education Department and Radhendu Roy Choudhury, executive council representative to the inquiry committee. The team met the agitating student leaders.
The BSU – with support from other students’ organisations and academicians – have been demanding the resignation of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Hemanta K Baruah, who retired recently and has got an extension, and the appointment of a Deputy V-C. The indefinite strike entered its ninth day on Friday.
The ongoing strike has affected both the academic as well as non-academic functions of the university. The BSU continues to block the entrance gate of the university campus and the president of the students’ body Swgwmsar Basumatary has said the indefinite stir will go on till their demands are met.
The students’ main contention is extending the term of the incumbent V-C Dr Hemanta K Baruah over which they are “seeing red” and they alleged that during the five-year tenure of Dr Baruah, “no developmental work has taken place in the university”. They demanded that the incumbent V-C be immediately released and a new V-C be appointed in his place. The protesters also demanded filling up of vacant posts in both teaching and non-teaching departments.
The Bodoland University Teachers’ Association has expressed serious concern over the ongoing indefinite strike at the varsity campus saying that it was “hampering” the academic ambience of the varsity.