Manipur: Univ bodies condemn HANDCUFFING OF JAILED PROFESSOR

IMPHAL: Three university bodies in Manipur on Sunday condemned the alleged handcuffing of a jailed university professor while being taken to a hospital, a press release said.

The Joint Action Committee of the MUSU, MUSA and MUTA at an emergency meeting considered the action as an “insulting treatment of members of the university community,” the press release issued by Manipur University Students Union, Manipur University Teachers Association and Manipur University Staffs Association said.

They also demanded immediate release of the 15 jailed students and teachers of the varsity. Police confirmed that the professor had been handcuffed and rules were observed in this case. “Irrespective of charges, an accused is handcuffed while being taken to a hospital,” a police official said on condition of anonymity.

A MUSU office bearer said that Prof. Dorendrajit was handcuffed while being taken to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIIMS) on October 11 and the academician's wife had brought it to their notice.

The professor had been taken to RIIMS after his health condition turned serious fol

lowing complications from diabetes, the MUSU office bearer said. The 15 people have been

lodged in jail on the basis of an FIR registered on September 20 by the then acting vice-chancellor Prof. K Yugindro Singh, senior police officials said.

The then acting VC'S FIR triggered a massive raid on the hostels and residential quarters located within the varsity, on September 21 midnight fol

lowed by condemnation and counter-reactions from students bodies. In another related development, the National Human Rights Commission, has asked concerned authorities, to submit a detailed report on the raid after a case was filed by human rights activist Henri Tiphagne.