Shillong, Nov 12 (Reporter) The agitating students of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Meghalaya have vowed to continue with their indefinite hunger strike, which has entered the eighth day on Tuesday, until the University Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, accedes to their demands. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has been briefed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on the current crisis in NEHU, has assured Sangma on Tuesday to find a resolution to the impasse. Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Chief Minister Sangma wrote: “Received a call from Hon’ble Minister Education @dpradhanbjp, for his assurance to find a resolution to the current issue of NEHU. Would like to thank Hon’ble Governor for his intervention.” The NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), which is spearheading the hunger strike outside the VC’s office, has turned down the appeal of Meghalaya Governor and its Chief Rector, Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar, and the VC to withdraw their protest. “We have decided to continue with our indefinite hunger strike until the VC tenders his resignation. The students’ community stands united and are not attending any classes in support of our demands,” NEHUSU President Sandy Sohtun said. The North Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), the Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA-NEHU, Khasi Students’ Union (KSU-NEHU Unit), besides other student organisations have also extended support to the agitating students. At least nine students were hospitalised after undergoing the hunger strike, and five of them rejoined the protest, even as many students appeared weak but were seen as determined to continue with the indefinite hunger strike. However, Shukla maintained that he would not resign as VC and appealed to the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), which is spearheading the hunger strike from November 5, to resolve their issues across the table. “Why should I resign? I have accepted some of NEHUSU demands to appoint a Pro-Vice Chancellor in Shillong campus and Tura campus and removed the Officer on Special Duty (OSD), College Development Council Debashish Chowdhary and the Guest House in-charge, Sajan K Job,” Shukla said. “Moreover, the Executive Council (EC) of the NEHU has decided to constitute an inquiry committee over the demand of the students to remove the Registrar Col. Omkar Singh’s (Retd.) and Deputy Registrar (Academics), Amit Gupta,” he said. He said the inquiry committee is likely to be headed by a retired High Court judge or an IAS officer. Shukla, who has not attended office following attacks on his official residence on Sunday morning, said that he is very much nearby the NEHU campus but refused to disclose his exact whereabouts, citing security concerns. Meghalaya police have registered a case based on the FIR lodged by a senior NEHU official. However, police are yet to identify the attackers. Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar, who is the Chief Rector of the University, has also appealed to the students to call off their strike and has assured that he would try to resolve the current impasse...////...