Manipur University: MUSU expresses shock over acting VC's "terrorists like agitators" remark

The Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) has expressed shock over acting Vice Chancellor K Yugindro Singh's charge that agitating students are like "terrorists" and that his life is at risk.

In a letter to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Singh demanded Y-category security for himself.

"I would like to request the Centre to do the needful immediately in order to save the University from the hands of terrorists like agitators...," Yugindro said in his October 3 letter.

At a press conference on Friday night, MUSU president M Dayamand questioned the basis of Singh's claim and said his comparison between students and terrorists was "shocking".

He also attacked the acting VC over his claim that Governor Najma Heptulla was lending "overt support" to the agitators.

The students' leader said only a "mentally unsound" individual could level such charges against the governor.

Dayamand said Heptulla has been making efforts to restore normalcy in the varsity and for resumption of academic activities.

He also welcomed chief minister N Biren Singh's orders to the DGP to stop all attempts to arrest the students and teachers and withdraw security forces from the campus.

The Manipur University has been on the boil for several months. It opened on August 23 after 85-day strike by the students who had been demanding removal of the then VC A P Pandey over allegations of administrative and financial irregularities against him.

President Ram Nath Kovind, in his capacity as Visitor of the Manipur University, recently placed Pandey under suspension as an inquiry is underway into the allegations against him.

Yugindro was appointed as the acting VC soon after.