Scuffle between NEHU students not communal

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) today said the recent scuffle among students residing in the hostel was in no way related to communal issues.

The Monday night incident, which involved a verbal altercation and physical confrontation among students residing in the hostel, was related to disagreements regarding the rules and regulations governing hostel life.

Immediate action was taken to diffuse the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of all students involved.

The Dean of Students Welfare, the Warden of Hostel 19 and the University’s Security Officer promptly arrived at the scene to pacify the situation and maintain order.

Furthermore, local law enforcement was notified of the incident, and they promptly arrived on the NEHU premises to assess the situation and assist in maintaining peace and order.

The NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof PS Shukla today convened a high-level meeting to address the incident comprehensively. The meeting was attended Registrar, the Dean of Students Welfare, Proctor, Security Officer, and the Warden of Hostel No. 19.

“The purpose of this meeting was to thoroughly discuss the matter and ensure that due disciplinary actions are taken in accordance with the rules and regulations of the University,” NEHU PRO Dr Davidson Pyngrope said in a statement.

“NEHU wishes to emphasize that the situation has been brought under control, and the incident was in no way related to communal issues, as falsely reported by various sources. The University remains committed to upholding a safe and inclusive environment for all students, and any breaches of conduct will be addressed with utmost seriousness and adherence to established protocols,” he said.

Meanwhile, NEHU urged all stakeholders, including staff, students, parents, and the general public, to rely on official statements and verified information provided by the University to avoid spreading baseless rumours or misinformation.

“The University remains dedicated to the holistic development and well-being of its student community and will continue to take all necessary steps to maintain a harmonious and conducive learning environment,” Prof Pyngrope said.

Govt to review Shillong, Tura medical colleges

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 2: The state government will soon review the status of the proposed Shillong medical college and under-construction Tura medical college.

“We will be reviewing these matters sometime by mid-April,” Minister-in-charge of Health & Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters.

Lyngdoh said she is not completely privy to the status of the Shillong medical college but there are some problems regarding the location and that decision has to be first taken there.

“We will also have to ensure that this PPP formula that will be implemented in Shillong is a formula that will be good for the state of Meghalaya,” she asserted.

“Therefore, we will review the status (of the proposal) so that we have a better idea as there are so many components to a PPP model in a medical college. We would like to get the best deal out of the offers which have come before the state,” she added.

Lyngdoh further informed that the progress of the Tura medical college is satisfactory.

Last month, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had informed that talks are on for setting up of the Shillong Medical College in a public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

This was after the government had cancelled the MoU signed with the earlier partners for setting up the Shillong medical college after nothing moved even after 10 years have lapsed.

The government has already identified a land of 50 acres in the new city area where the medical college would be set up.

Earlier in his budget speech, the Chief Minister said his government is committed to establishing medical colleges in the state.

He informed that the physical progress of the Tura medical college is about 40 per cent and said, “We are taking steps to fast-track its construction.”

“The proposal for setting up a medical college in Shillong in PPP mode is being actively considered and we expect to initiate this project in 2023-24,” the CM had assured.