New Delhi: Around 284 academic and civil society members, including Noam Chomsky and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, have sent a petition to President Ram Nath Kovind requesting his intervention in the recent arrests of teachers and students of the Manipur University. The petition calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the six teachers and seven students arrested on September 21.
Manipur University has witnessed unrest for the past three months as students and teachers had been demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor A.P. Pandey over financial and administrative irregularities. An inquiry committee was set up and the VC was suspended on September 17. K. Yugindro Singh took charge after the suspension of Pandey, students and teachers attempted to hold a dialogue with him against this move since it violated the accord made between MHRD, Manipur Government and the Manipur University Community. The arrests were made after Yugindro Singh filed a complaint against the students and teachers on charges of attempt to murder and kidnapping.
Read the full text of the petition below.
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We, the undersigned academics and members of civil society, unequivocally condemn the arbitrary arrest and incarceration of six teachers and nine students of Manipur University. Six teachers and seven students have been sent to judicial custody for fifteen days, and the remaining two students for five days.
The arrests have been made under sections of the Indian Penal Code that invoke ‘an attempt to murder’, ‘wrongful confinement’, ‘extortion’, ‘kidnapping’ and ‘criminal conspiracy’ on the basis of a complaint made by Manipur University faculty, K. Yugindro Singh (and the suspended registrar M. Shyamkesho) on charges of attempt to murder and kidnapping. The six arrested professors — Dr. N. Santomba, (Dept. of. Manipuri), Prof. Chungkham Yashawanta (Dept. of Linguistics, also Dean of Humanities, and in-charge Dean of Students Welfare), Prof. Sougaijam Dorendrajit (Dept. of. Physics and Registrar-in-charge), Dr. L. Bishwanath Sharma (Dept. of. Philosophy), Prof. L. Sanjukumar (Dept. of. Biotechnology and Secretary MUTA), and Dr. Yengkhom Raghumani (Dept. of. Earth Sciences) have also been suspended with immediate effect. Following these arrests, the Manipur University campus has been turned into a cantonment, the boys hostel has had tear gas shells and mock bombs rained down upon it all of Thursday night (20 September), Internet services shut down, and all normal academic life has come to a complete halt.
Manipur University has witnessed a peaceful (in the face of great police brutality) 85 day long united agitation by its teachers, students, and staff asking for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor A P Pandey, and the constitution of an Independent Enquiry Committee to look into the allegations of his administrative and financial lapses. This agitation was successful, with a probe being announced on August 16, 2018 and the VC being placed on suspension pending inquiry on 18 September 2018. The details of the egregious misdemeanours of the suspended VC that have formed the basis of agitation by the greater student and teacher communities and have been the cause of disruption of academic activities, are to be found in the news item links provided below.
With the agitation called off, Manipur University was in the process of conducting long-delayed semester examinations. K. Yugindro Singh’s attempt to assume charge as pro-VC on the strength of a suspended VC’s 10 order is unquestionably superseded by the Sept. 18 accord between MHRD, Manipur Government, and the Manipur University community. Since August 3, Prof. Viswanath Singh has served as VC in-charge, so designated by the MHRD itself on August 2.
It was in this context that the members of the MU community engaged with K. Yugindro (and M. Shyamkesho) to dissuade him from plunging the university into a crisis. That there was no attempt to kidnap or murder is clearly evidenced by the fact that the two faculty were unharmed after the meeting, and at full liberty to make the complaint personally. If anything, the conspiracy seems to be on the other side, as latest reports are that K. Yugindro Singh has assumed charge as acting VC of Manipur University (a ceremony that was attended by not even one faculty member) on the instructions purportedly issued by MHRD on Sept. 19. This gives truth to the charge being made in Manipur University that the police action and arrests of the professors and students enjoys political patronage by both the state and central BJP-RSS governments. The aim of this ‘invasion’ was to create conditions that will simultaneously derail or tamper with the probe against AP Pandey, wreak retribution on the Manipur University community and particularly MUSU for their successful agitation, and serve as a chilling warning to all universities whose constituents dare to challenge corruption, arbitrary and unethical conduct by BJP-RSS appointees as heads of their institutions.
Our appeal is to the Visitor of Manipur University, the President of India. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all teachers and students of Manipur University arrested on 21 September and after, and a withdrawal of all charges and suspension orders. We also demand a removal of Yugindro Singh as VC in charge and a restoration of Prof. Viswanath Singh as VC in-charge, and Prof. Sougaijam Dorendrajit as registrar in-charge, and a strict adherence to all terms of the Memorandum of Agreement henceforth. Our reasons for these demands are best put in the words that the Visitor himself used in his order suspending AP Pandey: “in the interest of justice for free and fair enquiry.”
Signatories:
- Noam Chomsky, Professor, U. of Arizona, MIT emeritus
- G.C. Spivak, Columbia University
- Mahatma Gandhi Central University Teachers Association, Mahatma Gandhi Central University
- Aaditya Kulkarni, research scholar
- Abha Dev Habib, Assistant Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Abhijit Roy, Professor, Department of Film Studies, Jadavpur University
- Abir Dasgupta, independent journalist
- Adhiraj Nayar, student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Aditya Nigam, Professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi
- Afrin Firdaus Idris, PhD student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Aheibam Preetibala, Researcher, Anthropological Survey of India
- Aishwarya, student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Ajit, student
- Alfina, student, University of Delhi
- Aman Kumar, student
- Ameet Parameswaran, Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Amit R. Baishya, Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma
- Amitrajeet Mukherjee, student
- Ananya, student
- Andesha, University of Delhi,
- Andrew Simpson, Professor, University of Southern California
- Ania Loomba, Professor, University of Pennsylvania
- Anirban Baishya, University of Southern California,
- Anita, Professor, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Anja, student
- Anshikha Adhikari, PhD student, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
- Anu Pandey, PhD student
- Anumitra, Chef
- Anupama Potluri, Assistant Professor, University of Hyderabad
- Anurag, Manager, Colliers International
- Anvita Abbi, Professor (retired) JNU, Simon Fraser University (Adjunct)
- Ayesha Kidwai, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Archana Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Arindam Bose, Associate Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Atanu Saha, Assistant professor, Jadavpur University
- Atreyee Sharma, Assistant Professor, English and Foreign Languages University
- Atul Sood, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Avalokita, Filmmaker
- Avinash Kumar, Faculty, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Awadesh Kumar Mishra, Professor, English and Foreign Languages University
- Ayesha Kidwai, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- B.S. Saraswat, Professor of Chemistry, IGNOU (Retired)
- Barnali Oinam, PhD student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Benubala Nameirakpam, research scholar, University of Delhi
- Bhaba Sarma, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
- Bhanu Priya, research scholar, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Bhavna Joshi, PhD student
- Bibinaz Thokchom, Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Bidisha Bhattacharjee, Faculty member, Visva Bharati
- Bidya, student, University of Delhi
- C.P. Chandrasekhar, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Chandni Mehta, PhD student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Chandrasekhar, Director, Market research
- Chandrika Baruah, student
- Chetan Anand, research scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Chinchu C., research consultant
- Chirashree Das Gupta, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Chirom Meiraba Meitei, student, INSPIRE Fellow at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (IISER K)
- Dahrii Vemai, former General Secretary North East Students Society Delhi University, Students of Delhi University
- Darren, NUS/Student
- Debaditya Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor, Kazi Nazrul University
- Debarshi Das, Associate Professor
- Debashis Ghoshal, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Debjani Sengupta, Associate Professor, IP College, University of Delhi
- Deepa, Product Manager
- Deepak Kumar, University of Delhi
- Denys Leighton, Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Dhiraj Kumar Nite, Social scientist, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Diana Ashem, Guest Faculty, Whistling Woods International Institute
- Doyeeta Majumder, Assistant Professor, Jadavpur University
- Dr Rina Ramdev, Associate Professor, University of Delhi
- Dr Avinash Pandey, Assistant Professor, University of Mumbai
- Dr Mostaid Ahmed, Assistant Professor, The Neotia University
- Dr Romanbabu Oinam, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Tirupati
- Dr Sk Sarif Hassan, Assistant Professor, Pingla College
- Dr Surinder PK Randhawa, consultant, Sign language, independent researcher
- Dr Chilka, Associate Professor, Basanti Devi College
- Dr Mohan Rao, Professor (retired), Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Dripta Piplai, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Dulali Nag, Associate Professor, IISWBM
- Eli Doye, Assistant Professor, Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar
- Ena Panda, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi
- Francis Hmar, research scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Frans Manjali, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- G. Arunima, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Ganpat, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Gautam Gupta, Professor, Jadavpur University
- Gayatri Das, PhD student, Tezpur University
- Geetha Venkataraman, Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Githa Hariharan, Writer
- Gopalji Pradhan, Professor, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Gracious M Temsen, Associate Professor, University of Hyderabad
- Gunabanta Thangjam, research scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Gyan, Reader, HRI
- Hamidul Haque, Assistant Professor, Teaching
- Harshita Singh, Banker
- Hidam Gaurashyam Singh, teacher,
- Hima S, Research associate, Sikkim University
- Himanshu, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Indira Ghose, Professor, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
- Indrani Roy, Consultant
- Indranil Bhattacherjee, Social activist.
- Indranil Dutta, Faculty, English and Foreign Languages University
- Ipsith Ganesh, student, University of Delhi
- Ishani Guha, Linguist
- Janani Kandhadai, researcher,
- Jayati Ghosh, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Jon Solomon, Professor, University of Lyon
- Jyoti Sharma, research scholar, University of Delhi
- K. Satyanarayana, Professor, English and Foreign Languages University
- Kailadbou Daimai, Assistant Professor (guest), Assam University
- Kakho Thaoli, student, University of Delhi
- Kapildeo kumar Paswan, Assistant professor (adhoc), University of Delhi
- Karmveer, Assistant Professor, English and Foreign Languages University
- Karthick, PhD student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Kaustubh Ghoshal, student, University of Delhi
- Kavita Krishnan, Secretary, AIPWA
- Kavita Panjabi, Professor, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Kethosinuo Tepa, student, University of Delhi
- Khairunnisa Nakathorige, Maulana Azad National Urdu University
- Kishorchand, Academic Associate,
- Komal, student
- Laikhuram Premjit, research scholar, Tezpur University
- Laimayum Shielamanee, Associate Editor in a publishing house
- Lakashya, Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Lama Mando, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad
- Lata Singh, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- M. Inaoba Singh, Systems Engineer Trainee, Infosys Ltd
- Madhu Sahni, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Madhumanti Datta, student, University of Southern California
- Mahima, Business
- Mamatha Karollil, Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Manidipa Sen, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Manihar Singh Shougaijam, citizen
- Maroona Murmu, Associate Professor, Jadavpur University
- Mary E. John, Senior Fellow, Centre for Women’s Development Studies
- Michael W Morgan, retired professor, linguistics
- Mina Dan, Professor, Dept of Linguistics, University of Calcutta
- Minati Panda, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Miraj Shah Kori, research scholar,
- Modhu, research scholar, Institute for Plasma Research
- Moggallan Bharti, Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Mohammad Imtiyaj Khan, Assistant Professor, Gauhati University
- Mohan Rao, Professor (retired) JNU, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Moirangthem Ajoy, Graduate student
- Momocha Lousambam, student, MSU Baroda
- Monica Nanjundaswamy, artist,
- Moushumi Basu, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- N. Sai Balaji, JNUSU President, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Nalini Taneja, Associate Professor (retd), University of Delhi
- Naorem Arun Singh, research scholar, Gauhati University
- Napoleon Okram, citizen
- Naren Singh Rao, independent researcher, Independent Researcher
- Narender Thakur, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi
- Navaneetha M., Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Naveen Gaur, Associate Professor, University of Delhi
- Neha Kulshreshtha, Linguist
- Nikita Sud, University of Oxford,
- Nilanjana Gupta, Professor, Jadavpur University
- Ningombam Sanatombi devi, research scholar, Manipur University
- Niranjana Thokchom, research scholar, student
- Nishaant Choksi, Assistant Professor, Gandhinagar
- Nivedita Menon, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Nivedita Verma, MPhil student, University of Delhi
- Nupur Asher, research scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Oinam Nganthoibi, Linguist
- Olga, student,
- P. Madhavan, Professor, English and Foreign Languages University
- Padmabati Achom, PhD student, University of Delhi
- Panchali Ray, Assistant Professor, Jadavpur University
- Papori Bora, Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Parnisha Sarkar, PhD student, University of Toronto
- Paroma, research scholar, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Paroma Sanyal, Faculty, Academic, Delhi
- Partha Ray, Associate Professor, University Teacher
- Paula Chakravartty, Associate Professor, New York University
- Piyush Swain, research scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Pradip Datta, professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Pradipta Bandyopadhyay, Professor,
- Prateek, Financial analyst
- Praveen Singh, research scholar,
- Prem Taba, Former General Secretary RGUSU, Arunachal Pradesh, research Scholar
- Priyakhi Khanikar, student
- Priyanka Sharma, research scholar, Jadavpur University
- Probal Dasgupta, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
- Vaishna Narang, Professor (retired) JNU, PhD student
- R. Ramanujam, Professor, Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai
- R. Shah, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Vijay, Professor, University of Hyderabad
- Rahul Roy, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi
- Rajamathangi, PhD student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Rajat Datta, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Rajesh Upadhyay, social worker,
- Rakhi Sehgal, Labour Activist
- Ramesh, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
- Rashmi Varma, Associate Professor, University of Warwick
- Raya Sarkar, Lawyer
- Reena Ashem, Researcher, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
- Reena Rai, MPhil student, Scholar
- Richa Bhutani, PhD student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Riko Mihu, Assistant Professor, Teaching
- Robert Naorem, College Student
- Rohit, student
- Rohit Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Rojibala Ningo, PhD student
- Ronaldo Laishram, student
- Roshan Kokane, Freelance Journalist, Student at Ashoka University
- Ruchira, research scholar, Global Institute of Sustainable Prosperity
- S. Arulmozi, Assistant Professor, University of Hyderabad
- Sabina Yasmin Rahman, student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sachidanand Sinha, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sajni Mukherji, Professor (retired), Jadavpur University
- Salonee Shital, research scholar, student
- Samantak Das, Professor, Jadavpur University
- Samar Sinha, Assistant Professor, Sikkim University
- Samir Karmakar, Assistant Professor, Jadavpur University
- Sanabam Kennedy, student, Madras School of economics
- Sanchay, student, IISER Kolkata
- Sanjay Palshikar, Professor, University of Hyderabad
- Santosh Kumar, Assistant Professor, Christ (Deemed University)
- Saradindu Bhaduri, teacher,
- Sarasij Majumder, Associate Professor, Kennesaw State University, Atlanta
- Saravanan V, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Satish Chand Abbi, Professor (retired), IIT, Delhi
- Saumya, student, University of Delhi
- Sayan, PhD student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sayandeb Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi
- Selvyn Jussy, Associate Professor, University of Calcutta
- Shahana Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, Delhi University
- Shakuntala Mahanta, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
- Shamila Sreekiumar, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
- Shanta Laishram, Associate Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi
- Sharmila, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
- Sharmishthaa, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi
- Shaswati Mazumdar, Professor, University of Delhi
- Shilpaa Anand, Maulana Azad National Urdu University
- Shinu Varkey, Assistant Professor, St Berchmans College, Kerala Shiti Malhotra, Assistant Professor, Linguistics
- Shivam S, Playwright, Communications Manager
- Shivarama Padikkal, Professor, University of Hyderabad
- Shrijana Chhetri, student, University of Delhi
- Shrishti, Media
- Shuddhabrata Sengupta, Artist
- Simona Sawhney, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
- Somak Mukherjee, PhD student, University of California, Santa Barbara
- Sowmya Dechamma, University of Hyderabad,
- Sreekar Raghotham, Rutgers University,
- Srivatsan Manivannan, research scholar, OP Jindal Global University
- Stuart Russell, Professor (retired), Macquarie University
- Subhadeep Chowdhury, student, MPhil Research Scholar
- Subhankar Chakraborty, Researcher, Bangalore,
- Subhradip Ghosh, teacher,
- Sudeshna Dutta, PhD student, Jadavpur University
- Sudhanshi, Director, Tour operator
- Sukanta Chaudhuri, Jadavpur University
- Sulagna Mukhopadhyay, Lecturer, Guest faculty
- Sumir Karmakar, Principal Correspondent, Northeast, Deccan Herald
- Sunil Neelakantan, student, NALSAR University of Law
- Supriya Chaudhuri, Professor Emerita, Jadavpur University
- Surajit C Mukhopadhyay, Registrar, AUC Raipur
- Surjodeb Basu, Young India Fellow,
- Suvir Jaul, Professor, Univ of Pennsylvania
- Suyashi, research scholar,
- Svati Joshi, University of Delhi,
- Swati Moitra, University of Calcutta.
- T. Temsunungsang, Assistant Professor, English and Foreign Languages University, Shillong
- T Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, University of Delhi
- Tanima, PhD student, University of Chicago
- Tanya Sana Rajkumari, Law
- Tapsi Mathur, Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University Shanghai
- Tarun Bhartiya, TUR
- Tor A Åfarli, Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU
- Trishita, student
- Udaya Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Urmimala Sarkar Munsi, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Utpal Chattopadhyay, Senior Professor, IACS, Kolkata
- V.S. Sunder, Professor, Mathematician and Retd Prof (IMSc)
- Vageshwari, research scholar, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Vareni Awasthi, student, Graduate
- Veena Naregal, Associate Professor, Institute of Economic Growth
- Venusa Tinyi, University of Hyderabad,
- Vikas Rawal, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Vikram Nongmaithem, teacher, Higher Secondary Education Manipur
- Wichamdinbo Mataina, Assistant Professor, Sikkim University
- Yogesh, Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University, Delhi