IMPHAL, Oct 14 - Three university bodies in Manipur on Sunday condemned the alleged handcuffing of a jailed university professor while being taken to a hospital, a press release said.
The Joint Action Committee of MUSU, MUSA and MUTA at an emergency meeting considered the action as an �insulting treatment of members of the university community,� the press release issued by Manipur University Students Union, Manipur University Teachers Association and Manipur University Staffs Association said.
They also demanded immediate release of the 15 jailed students and teachers of the varsity.
Police confirmed that the professor had been handcuffed and rules were observed in this case. �Irrespective of charges, an accused is handcuffed while being taken to a hospital,� a police official said on condition of anonymity.
A MUSU office bearer said that Prof Dorendrajit was handcuffed while being taken to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIIMS) on October 11 and the academician�s wife had brought it to their notice.
The professor had been taken to RIIMS after his health condition turned serious following complications from diabetes, the MUSU office bearer said.
The 15 people have been lodged in jail on the basis of an FIR registered on September 20 by the then acting vice chancellor Prof K Yugindro Singh, senior police officials said.
The then acting VC�s FIR triggered a massive raid on the hostels and residential quarters located within the varsity, on September 21 midnight.
In another related development, the National Human Rights Commission, has asked concerned authorities, to submit a detailed report on the raid after a case was filed by human rights activist Henri Tiphagne.
The letter also said that if a detailed report is not furnished within a month, the Commission shall be constrained to invoke coercive process under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, for personal appearance of the concerned authority.
The Manipur High Court on Thursday suspended the acting vice-chancellor and registrar of Manipur University and appointed a new administrator in an effort to bring normalcy to the varsity, which has been on the boil since May 30 last. � PTI
