The administration in Imphal West district, where prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC has been in force since July 25, issued a fresh order today, preventing protest rallies in and around the Manipur University, official sources said.
Academic activities at the central university have been under suspension for the past two months as students, teachers and the staff members have been protesting here, seeking the removal of Vice Chancellor AP Pandey over allegations of administrative and financial negligence.
The fresh prohibition, beginning today afternoon, does not apply to religious activities, the sources said.
Pandey was granted a one-month leave yesterday on the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry's advice. He was replaced by professor W Vishwanath Singh for 30 days.
The ministry had earlier formed an inquiry committee, headed by a high court chief justice, to look into the allegations against him.
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The protesters here, however, refused to accept the arrangement and demanded immediate removal of Pandey.
In his order, District Magistrate N Praveen Singh today said the prohibition was imposed "in view of the consistent rallies" by local people and the university community, under the aegis of Manipur University students Union, Manipur University Teachers Association (MUTA) and a staff association.
Earlier in the day, the representatives of different political parties, in solidarity with the agitators, tried to take out a silent rally from Kakwa area of the district to Canchipur area, where the central university is located, but was stopped midway, a district official said.
O Joy, a former BJP leader who joined the rally today, asserted that it was a peaceful rally.
"I don't understand why we were prevented from taking out the rally. The issue concerns the future of many students," he added.
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