New Delhi, May 04 2012: A week after Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma alledged that discrimination by the Amity University authorities led to the suicide of his niece (L) Dana Silva Sangma ( 21), the university has countered that Ms Sangma’s suicide cannot be attributed to racial discrimination.
The late Dana Sangma was a MBA student at the institute.
The allegation that the invigilator tore her answer sheet, used abusive language are all misrepresented, the University representatives told reporters here today at press club, New Delhi.
They said, “The whole incident has unfortunately been misinterpreted by the media” .
Dr Padma Banerjee, Maj Gen BS Suhag, Pro and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Savita Mehta Vice President, Communication represented the university.
Recollecting the incident, the university officials stated that Sangma was caught with her mobile phone inside the exam hall and all rules apply to all students.
Dana was allowed to write her papers despite being late for 10 hours, they asserted.
The university also clarified that the police inquiry report has found no evidence in the allegations raised against them.
On the allegation that the late Ms Sangma was abused and discriminated against, the university stated that there is no such report either by the university committee members that was set up right after the incident nor by the students who are in the same class with Dana.
Upon the answer-sheet that has Dana’s writing that she did not “copy and had studied well” the university authorities informed that there are conflicting dates on those sheets.
The University authorities did not rule out possibilities of “stress, personal or family issues” and added that Dana was seen crying in the hallway.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Suhag said “there is no personal speculation but there is definitely excessive use of mobile phone by Dana.” University Vice President Savita Mehta added “it is unfortunate that the case has taken a political turn” .
Further the University affirmed that there has never been any complaints or allegations of discrimination in the university and that it will cooperate in the case.
Dr Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya had filed a case under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, in which Amity University officials have been charged with abetment to suicide of (L) Dana Sangma.
In his address to the media earlier on Apirl 30, the Meghalaya CM had strongly come out against the University stating that private institutions in the country have put students into extreme stress in their pursuit of “brand names and money” .
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
Justice for Dana, Richard Loitam : Parliament discusses NE issues
PC negates racial profiling of NE students
New Delhi, May 04 2012: Rejecting the contention that students from the north eastern states are subjected to discrimination and racial profiling, Home Minister P Chidambaram today said that the Government will take every step to ensure their security and asked states to do the same.
“The Government of India will take every step to ensure their security and I am confident that all state governments will discharge their constitutional responsibilities to ensure the safety and security of all people residing within that state,” Chidambaram said in Rajya Sabha.
He was responding to a calling attention notice by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley in the wake of deaths of two students from north-east in Gurgaon, Haryana and Bengaluru.
Chidambaram said the state governments were primarily responsible for the prevention of crimes arising out of discrimination, adding, the Centre accorded “highest importance to development of north-eastern region as well as prevention of atrocities against Schedule Tribe and will not countenance discrimination in any form” .
Referring to the recent death of Dana Sangma in Gurgaon near Delhi and of Richard Loitam in Bengaluru besides allegations of racial profiling against Tibetans during the recent BRICS summit, he said these have caused disquiet and agitation among the community, specially students from the region.
He said the police are investigating the deaths of both Dana Sangma and Richard Loitam after registering cases and conducting post-mortems.
Dana Sangma, a student from Meghalaya committed suicide due to alleged “discrimination” by the Amity University authorities in Gurgaon.
Her body was found in her hostel room on April 24 .
She had been allegedly humiliated by an invigilator, who reportedly tore her answer sheet, after claiming to have caught her cheating in the exams.
Students and friends alleged that she was racially targeted and couldn’t handle the humiliation.
Today Amity’s Vice-Chancellor and Co-Vice Chancellor said the rules of the college were applicable to all students and there was no discrimination towards her.
“When caught with a mobile phone in the exam hall, exact same process was applied which is applied to other students in case of mobile phones being caught with students,” Padmakali Banerjee, the Co Vice Chancellor of Amity University, said at press conference.
The college also said that her answer sheet wasn’t torn and no abusive language was used as was alleged by some students to the media.
The college authorities maintain that they are cooperating with investigators but the issue had turned into a needless political controversy.
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies
CM consoles Richard Loitam’s family, assures to insist Karnataka CM for justice
Imphal, May 04 2012: Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh has assured the bereaved parents of late Loitam Richard of insisting his Karnataka counterpart Sadananda Gowda to bring justice for the killing of the architecture student.
A student of Acharya NRV School of Architecture, Bangalore, Richard (19) was found dead on his hostel bed on April 18.He was allegedly beaten badly by his seniors inside the hostel of the previous night.
Karnataka police have registered a case under section 302 IPC (murder) against two students of the institute but they are yet to be pulled up as the cops are awaiting post mortem report.
Earlier the cops registered an unnatural death case under section 174 (C) of the CrPC.
Beside meeting the chief minister at his bungalow for an hour, the grievous parentsLoitam Rajesh and Bidyabati Deviboth doctors also met home minister Gaikhangam on Thursday.
“During our meeting also attended by ministers M Oken and AK Mirabai, the chief minister said he would insist upon his Karnataka counterpart Sadananda Gowda at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) meeting at New Delhi,” a broken Rajesh told reporters at his Uripok Yambem Leikai residence here on Friday afternoon.
” Though the two prime accused are yet to be punished , we somewhat feel a little relief after the CM made his words to pressurize the Karnataka CM for doing the needful to bring justice,” Rajesh said.
“The tragic event has befallen on my sweet son Richard.
There are hundreds and thousands of students like my son are pursuing their academic career outside Manipur.
I don’t like them to meet the same fate my son has met,” Rajesh said.
Taking serious note of the non finalization of the final post mortem report of his son, the bereaved father questioned the authorities for their inordinate delay to produce the report.
“Being a doctor I have certain knowledge on this matter.
It takes around 4/5 days to prepare such report.
Why so much time has been taken to make it out.
This being the case, we suspect suppressing the report by the institute’s management only to find escape route to save their skin during protracted time,” he said.
Recounting the happy times contributed to the small family by Richard during his school days the bereaved father said Richard was also a good sportsman.
Among other laurels, his team bagged the champion’s trophy in the RIMC soccer cup 2010 .
Source: The Sangai Express
MLA writes to PM on Richard Loitam
Imphal, May 04 2012: In the wake of events following the murder of Richard Loitam on April 18, MLA L Ibomcha Singh has sent a representation to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh demanding justice.
In the letter, the MLA expressed his shock over the inactivity of the Karnataka Government and the callous attitude with which the school authority is handling the situation.
L Ibomcha has requested the PM to instruct the Karnataka Government to ensure that action is taken up to punish those guilty in the Richard murder case.
Further, he asked the PM to take up measures to ensure that students of the North East region are not subjected to injustice based on race and region while also urging the Central Government to regain the “fast eroding” confidence of the people of the region.
Source: The Sangai Express
