Dimapur, September 8 (MExN): Nagaland university teachers today disclosed that the troop of army personnel allegedly brought in by NU vice chancellor Prof. K Kannan on the university’s foundation day, September 4, were from the 9th Assam Rifles. The upheaval on September 4 started from Prof. Kannan ‘driving past’ victims of a bus accident, university students, to go to Mokokchung. He returned only six hours later after dinner – accompanied by the 9th Assam Rifles.
On September 4, 2010 Kannan and the army major reportedly also claimed “that he is appointed by the President of India and therefore has the authority” to use the Assam Rifles. Further, NUTA said to have procured letters, through the RTI, written by Prof. Kannan demanding central security forces for Lumami campus on the pretext that “Nagaland is a conflict state.”
Nagaland University teachers today sought penalty against unpopular Nagaland University Vice Chancellor Prof. Kannan for his alleged use of Assam Rifles personnel on September 4 in the Lumami campus. Leaders of the Nagaland University Teachers’ Association (NUTA) today sought the hand of President of India Pratibha Patil, to remove Kannan and also initiate disciplinary action against him for using the military for his interest.
The NUTA addressed a letter to the President today seeking action for ‘the shocking behavior of Prof. K Kannan,Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University and the unwarranted call for troops of the Armed forces by the VC on the night of 4th September 2010 at Lumami headquarters of the university.’
“…the association condemns the insensitive and objectionable behavior of Prof. Kannan, who refused and failed to respond to the urgent appeal of the students who were involved in the bus accident due to the rash driving of the bus driver. They had appealed to the vice chancellor to visit the spot of the accident which was a few kilometers outside the university headquarter,” the NUTA said.
The NUTA narrated the turn of events: “Prof. Kannan, instead, drove past the traumatized students and villagers who had gathered at the spot and went to Mokokchung to play host to his guest Prof. Talwar who had been brought for the foundation day program on the 6th September 2010. While the student community was clamoring for his presence to listen to their grievance, Prof. Kannan attended a dinner and arrived back in Lumami after six hours, accompanied by a truckload of armed forces from the 9th Assam Rifles led by an adjutant. The army adjutant was brought by the Vice Chancellor along with two university teachers in the university official vehicle at 10.30 p.m.”
This unwarranted presence of armed troops incensed the students even more who protested leading to the boycott of the university’s foundation day program by all students at Lumami.
The NUTA also questioned the intention of Prof. Kannan in hosting the university guest Prof. Talwar in the 9th Assam Rifles, at Mokokchung guest house, in spite of available guest houses and the circuit houses. The NUTA also questioned Prof. Kannan who brought armed forces to the university campus to threaten the traumatized students who waited six hours for him to discuss their grievances.
The NUTA has sought clarifications from the President whether Kannan has been empowered to use the armed forces to threaten university students as both Prof. Kannan and the army major has claimed “that he is appointed by the President of India and therefore has the authority to do so.”
It was also disclosed that in 2009 Prof. Kannan wrote to the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs demanding central security forces to guard Lumami campus on claims that “Nagaland is a conflict state and unless such security arrangements were given by the Home Ministry, it was not possible to function at Lumami.”
The NUTA has procured these letters under the Right to Information Act, which proves that Prof. Kannan is using the excuse of militancy in the region to carry out his own agendas.
“The NUTA will not tolerate any use of Armed forces and threats to the university fraternity and students by a vice chancellor whose responsibility is to protect and ensure their safety. The NUTA reiterates its demand for the immediate removal of Prof. Kannan as per the law “before this university is totally destroyed.”
