HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 17: Tensions flared at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar in the wake of a student’s tragic death, leading to protests by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Club Road. The protesters set fire to an effigy of Academic Dean BK Roy on Sunday, voicing their grievances against him and the NIT Silchar authorities.
During the protest, slogans condemning perceived injustices echoed through the air. Police intervened to prevent the effigy from being set ablaze, leading to a confrontation between law enforcement and ABVP members. Ultimately, the police managed to retrieve the effigy from the protesters.
On Saturday, director general of police (DGP) GP Singh addressed the turmoil at NIT Silchar via social media. He expressed understanding of peaceful protests but firmly denounced acts of violence and vandalism. Singh called upon the administration to handle such situations with empathy and firmness, emphasising the importance of dialogue in resolving issues. In a heartfelt appeal, he urged parents to counsel their children appropriately.
These events unfolded against the backdrop of a student’s suicide at NIT Silchar. The student’s lifeless body was found in unsettling circumstances within the NIT hostel campus. Investigations revealed that the student had been grappling with academic challenges, including multiple subject backlogs from his first semester. As a result, NIT authorities withheld his registration for the third year until these backlogs were cleared. The student had reportedly sought assistance from NIT academic dean BK Roy, but his concerns allegedly went unaddressed.
