GANGTOK,: The Sikkim University Students’ Association (SUSA) has maintained that the untimely death of Sikkim University student Neirav Giri was due to “sheer negligence of cold-blooded administration”.
The first semester student had passed away last week at the Sikkim University campus in Yangang, Namchi district due to a medical emergency.
“Last weekend, a student of Central University lost his precious life due to sheer negligence of cold-blooded administration. The authoritarian attitude of the administration and pantomime of hoax concern post demise portrays nothing but mere attempt to sweep the incidence under carpet, which shows the adamant babus and masters are heartless who have no regard for precious human life,” said the SUSA in a press statement on Thursday.
The SUSA said the student’s death, while a great loss to his family and student fraternity, asks bigger questions on the administration’s failure to address the long list of unresolved issues of the university.
“Will the hollow promises and un-synchronised act of concern by authoritarian administration post demise resolve everyday challenge…The question remains? Non-involvement of democratically-elected students associations and turning deaf to the voice of students’ concern, be it in affairs of the university or shifting, rather forceful shifting of departments in under-construction site in Yangang with added threats of students questioning and demanding the basic rights and false propagandas in relation to Yangang campus in hand with gross violation of UGC guidelines, stiff-neck attitude high handedness, and practice of oppression from the administration has all added to the loss of a precious life,” said the SUSA.
Demanding justice, the SUSA said it will not entertain any false assurances from the administration and questions the legitimacy of the verbal assurances as it was in the case of 14 legitimate and basic demands placed for the students and by the students in the past was quashed.
“SUSA demands inclusion of student representative in the fact-finding committee and questions the role of director, Yangang campus and his basic duties, along with the posting of doctors, provost and warden and their statement in relation to the very case. In strong words, SUSA would like to remind the administration, university is for the students and SUSA will fight for justice and rights of the student fraternity,” said the association.