GANGTOK, September 9: The local students studying at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT) today said that the inefficiency of the police and the SMIT management has given rise to yesterday’s violence at the college campus.
Addressing a press conference here this evening, the locals pursuing studies at SMIT alleged that the State Government, police and the SMIT management were not too serious to carry out any independent investigations. They also accused the police of lathi-charging and injuring eight students without knowing the actual reason.
Ongden Bhutia, one of the victims told media persons that the situation went out of hand when an Army vehicle tried to take away the students out of the campus.
They also alleged that the SMIT and police did not even try to pacify the situation and bring it under control.
At the same time, the students denied of their involvement in ransacking the computers, instruments and other properties of the college. “We, the local students were out of the campus gate which was locked from inside, so there is no question of vandalizing the college,” Diwas Poudyal, another student added.
The students have further requested the SMIT management to call back their decision of shutting down the college until further notice and resume the studies as usual.
“We have always welcomed the students from outside the state in our institution and wanted to maintain that intimacy,” Sharad Dhamala told media persons.
On the other hand, the All Sikkim Student Union said that the incident was unfortunate and should not have taken place.
Santsosh Shivakoti, the general secretary of the Union has requested the SMIT management to recover all the losses of the students.
It was informed that many students have lost their laptops, mobiles, cash and other valuables during the entire frenzy.
The Union has at the same time appealed the state government and the concerned authorities to resolve the matter at the earliest.
