SHILLONG, Nov 21: The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) has temporarily halted its indefinite hunger strike after 16 days on Wednesday, citing worsening health conditions of the participants and intense appeals from teachers, medical professionals, and community members. The decision was announced on Wednesday by NEHUSU President Sandy Sohtun, who emphasized that the protest would continue in a different form as the primary demand—the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof. PS Shukla—has not been addressed.
The hunger strike, which began on November 5, was initiated by NEHUSU and supported by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit to protest alleged mismanagement at the university. The students are calling for the removal of Prof. Shukla, along with the Registrar and Deputy Registrar, accusing them of incompetence, poor university rankings, and declining infrastructure.
In response to these allegations, the Ministry of Education set up a two-member committee to investigate the matter. As a result, Prof. Shukla took a two-week leave, and Prof. N. Saha was appointed as the acting Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Saha has since engaged with various university stakeholders, including NEHUSU, the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), and the NEHU Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA). He also formed an internal inquiry committee, whose findings were submitted to the Ministry of Education on Wednesday. Prof. Saha’s intervention allowed for the resumption of key administrative functions, including academic activities and scholarships.
Sohtun confirmed the suspension of the hunger strike, acknowledging the health risks faced by the fasting students. “After discussions with teachers, staff, and doctors, we decided to temporarily halt the hunger strike,” Sohtun stated. However, he clarified that the protest would continue, with students holding sit-ins from 9 AM to 5 PM outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office. “We will not leave until our demands are met,” he added.
Sohtun also warned that if the Ministry of Education does not act on the committee’s report, the students will resume their hunger strike or pursue other forms of protest. He reiterated the students’ firm stance against allowing Prof. Shukla to return to the university. “We will not stay silent; we are resolute in not allowing Prof. Shukla to rejoin this institution,” Sohtun declared.
