Nagaland: Situation at Kaziranga University back to normal hours after unrest triggered by a viral video

KOHIMA — The situation at Kaziranga University in Assam has returned to normalcy hours after an unrest broke out in the campus on Saturday night over a remark made by a student in late Zubeen Garg.

This was updated by Temjen Imna Along, Minister of Higher and Technical Education, at a press conference on Sunday morning.

While informing that students from Nagaland are safe with no untoward incidents, he has appealed everyone to refrain from any kind of emotional outburst on social media or digital platforms.

Speaking about the incident, the minister said that there was hue and cry at the Kaziranga University on Saturday evening after a B. Tech civil engineering student if the varsity from Nagaland "had spoken not rightly about the late artiste Zubeen Garg", an international artiste who recently passed away in Singapore and whose mortal remains have reached Assam.

Upset by the remarks, some students from the region along with others, created a ruckus at the varsity campus around 8:30 pm and continued till 1-2 am in the morning, he informed.

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After hearing about the incident, he said the Chief Minister of Nagaland was apprised of the situation and then contacted the office of Assam Chief Minister to express gratitude for their swift action. He also expressed gratitude to Jorhat MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Minister Piyush Hazarika, DC Mokokchung, DC Jorhat, SP Mokokchung, SP Jorhat, and DGP Nagaland.

Along informed that the student from Nagaland, who made the controversial remarks, is safe and will be handed over to his family by tomorrow (Monday), as they feel that it will be best for him to stay away for some time. He also informed that more than 400 Nagaland students studying in the Kaziranga University are all safe.

He updated that there was no untoward incident last night, except for the enraged mob going 'a little bit out of control'.

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While expressing gratitude to the Government of Assam and students, he said that "our boy should not have spoken such kind of words or used to hurt the sentiments of the people of Assam".

Along, who is also a fan of the late artiste, has appealed, on behalf of the state government, to students from Nagaland studying in Kaziranga University to refrain from any kind of emotional outburst on social media or digital platforms, "because now is the time when lot of people are mourning for the untimely death of Zubeen Garg".

While assuring the safety and security of the students, he said that they also should be sensitive to the issues and sentiment of people around them.

"Whether knowingly or unknowingly, such kind of statement (made by the student) in anger or in happiness should not be given. That is completely wrong," he opined, saying that Zubeen Gard is very close to the heart of Assam people.

However, he expressed hope that the issue will not flare up again and that the management of the Kaziranga University will understand and not take disciplinary action.

The University has also issued a report on the incident, stating that a B Tech Civil Engineering visited Jorhat on Saturday morning. 'While returning to hostel, he was unable to find transportation and so upon reaching the hostel expressed his frustration before his roomates,' it stated.

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'During this outburst, he made certain remarks on late Zubeen Garg that were perceived as offensive by the Assamese students. Some students recorded his remarks and circulated the video on social media which led to widespread resentment among students and individual outside the University,' it added.

Subsequently, a group of students from outside the Kaziranga University along with some outsiders forcibly entered the campus and attempted to create unrest at Hunaru hostel, and the situation was brought under control with the timely intervention of the Superintendent of Police (SP) Additional SP, ADC, Circle officer, and OIC, Pullbor, Jorhat, it continued.

The report stated that the situation is under control, however both students and members of the public have requested the SP Jorhat to initiate strict legal action in this regard.

In response, the concerned student has issued a public apology to the University community, expressing remorse for his actions and seeking forgiveness, the statement read.

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