Thousands of students on Tuesday staged sit-in demonstration in front of Vanapa hall of Mizoram capital Aizawl demanding the State Government to immediately dismiss criminal cases against their leaders.
The agitation was spearheaded by Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) and Aizawl City College Joint Students Union (ACCJSU).
The protest was to extend solidarity to their six leaders, who have been summoned by a district court over two separate cases.
MSU president Vanlalliana said six leaders of MSU and ACCJSU, including former MSU president R B Lalmalsawma have been summoned by Aizawl district court in cases filed by the Chakma house liaison officer and National Institute of Technology (NIT) in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
The leaders were asked to appear on Tuesday in the NIT case and on February 25 next in the Chakma house case, he said.
In September 2017, Chakma house liaison officer in Aizawl lodged criminal complaint at Vaivakawn police station against the student leaders when functionaries of MSU and ACCJSU allegedly stormed the Chakma house to protest against the alleged assault on Mizo students by Chakma youths in Chawngte town in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district.
Police had arrested six student leaders, who were later released on bail.
In 2018, another criminal complaint was lodged against the leaders for allegedly intimidating a NIT director for failing to take action against a professor, whose transfer had been sought by students of the institution due to his alleged misbehaviour.
Vanlalliana said the student leaders refused to appear before the court on Tuesday on the ground that they were working for the welfare of the students.
He said the agitating students on Tuesday demanded the cases be immediately dismissed failing which it would launch an indefinite strike on the Chakma house.
According to the student leader, the students also marched towards the Chakma house at Aizawl’s Hunthar locality but the agitation was called off mid-way after they were informed that the cases have been dismissed.
Meanwhile, Aizawl SP C Lalruaia said the NIT has withdrawn the case, while the Chakma house case is under trail and the hearing is scheduled for February 25.