Raphael Warjri

Students of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) held a protest rally and launched a signature campaign on Tuesday, opposing the recent arrest of NEHUSU President Sandy Sohtun and the deployment of armed police on campus.

The NEHU Students' Union (NEHUSU) condemned the arrest, claiming it was carried out by plainclothes officers without proper procedure. They also criticized the presence of heavily armed police and CRPF personnel, calling it a threat to campus safety and freedom.

NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho Kharsati alleged that police acted without the university’s permission and violated legal norms, including the D.K. Basu guidelines which require officers to wear uniforms during arrests. Another student was reportedly detained and later released after being mistakenly identified.

The union announced an indefinite class boycott until the police leave the campus and demanded accountability from both the police and the state government for the unauthorized intervention.