Sikkim govt bends to students’ fury... SP Tiwari replaced; Displeased student group clashes with other group

SNS, Gangtok, 16 July 2014: Following long discussions at the Human Resource Development Department (HRDD) Office here today, the state government finally agreed to accept the demands of college students who have been protesting in the streets for the past three days.

The students and the administration have been locked in a showdown near Tadong College ever since the students protested a hike in the college fees and the police lathi-charged the protesters.

While the government rolled back the fee hike the same evening the students hit the streets, the students returned to the highway yesterday and today, demanding action against officials and police officers involved in the baton-charge.

The government today accepted the demand to immediately remove Superintendent of Police, East, Manoj Tiwari.  Sikkim Armed Police Commandant Tashi Wangyal took over as the East SP with immediate effect.

However, a group of students who disagreed with the agreement between their representatives and the government clashed with the other group, leaving 17 of them slightly injured. The dissatisfied group termed the agreement as baseless, as the accord paper bore no letterhead and stamp of the department, they alleged.

“We won’t agree to this, also because our demand for an apology from the SP Manoj Tiwari was not met. It is already 6.30 and we are going home and we will take rest, but we will be back tomorrow with our protest,” said a dissatisfied student.

Sources said hooligans infiltrated into the displeased camp and started the clash, while shops immediately downed shutters and vehicles stopped plying after the clash.

Meanwhile, in the discussions, student representatives and HRDD officials also agreed to a free and fair inquiry into the police action on the students. The HRDD further agreed to provide free legal assistance to students before a one-man inquiry committee and free medical assistance and compensation to the injured students. Earlier in the morning, the protesters demanded the resignation of the SP and blocked National Highway-10. The students’ protest turned into a mass agitation after hundreds of common people hit the streets and protested the police action in Gangtok town. In the morning, Tadong area became a battleground for the third consecutive day with the public clashing with the police and the latter firing tear gas shells in different areas likeTadong, Deorali, and Gangtok bazaar. The protesters threw stones at the police from different corners. 

The Army also conducted a flag-march in Tadong area after people started entering the Army station premises.

Director General of Police Jasbir Singh, ADGP SD Negi, and DIG MS Tuli also reached Tadong to control the situation.The protesters also torched vehicles at different places in the capital and smashed many vehicles, including that of minister SB Subedi at Deorali.

In today’s melee, one cameraperson of the Information and Public Relations Department was manhandled by the mob near the college gate.

Meanwhile, nine MLAs from the Opposition Sikkim Krantikari Morcha are staging a dharna at the chief secretary’s office, demanding immediate suspension of the SP, the DC and the Sadar Police Station PI. Martam-Rumtek MLA Mechung Bhutia said they will continue the dharna all through the night and hold a meeting tomorrow. “If need be, we will go on a hunger strike from tomorrow,” he said.