RIMS students allege abuse by director
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 07 2025:
Students of Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) on Wednesday afternoon staged a sit-in protest inside Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) campus, demanding the removal of RIMS director for allegedly using expletives as well as all administrative staff concerned for mentally harassing students and forcefully vacating them from their hostels.
During the sit-in, the protestors, who included MBBS, BDS, MRI, MLT, BASLP and BSc Nursing students, raised slogans and held placards inscribed with the slogans such as "Why director want to strip us?" "We accept punishment, not harassment", "We are not puppets", "We condemn sexual harassment on girls", and "We demand removal of director, dean and sub dean" .
In this regard, one of the protesting students said that the college festival for RIMS is held every year from April 20 to 26.As part of the many events of the festival, a duet dance was performed, which received no complaints or had any issue from faculty or students.
However, three days after the event, the director summoned executives of the students' union and rebuked them.
The next day, the director again summoned the students' union and the participants and scolded them harshly.
The director also resorted to using extreme profanity.
The student continued that the next day, a meeting of the dean, sub-deans and the student union was held, wherein the "mistakes" made by the students were identified and the students instructed to write an apology letter.
The same day, the students sought permission to organise a picnic for winners of the college festival.
The authorities stated that the students were free to do as they wish but their attendance would be marked absent.
However, without giving prior information or official notice that the picnic was not allowed, the authority issued a notice on afternoon of April 30 informing that 218 students are suspended for 10-15 days for taking unauthorised picnic and leave, and that they had to pay a fine of Rs 1000.As per RIMS prospectus, one has to pay a fine of Rs 400 for taking any unauthorised leave and there is no mention of suspension, the student reasoned.
The student continued that since April 30, the students, who had not harmed anyone and only went for picnic, are being treated as criminals.
The students went to submit an apology letter but the authority refused to accept the same.
Instead, they were made with verbal abuse and expelled from the class and campus as they are under suspension.
On May 2, the class captain was summoned to the director's office.
The dean and the sub-deans were also present.
At the office, the students were not allowed to bring in their mobile phones to prevent any video or audio recording.
The people present inside the office mocked and hurled abuse at the students.
On May 5 and 6, a notice was issued to the students to vacate the hostel.
While the local students were told to return to their homes, students from other states were forced to leave the hostel.
Questioning what the students are supposed to do in such a situation, the student demanded authority concerned to remove the director of RIMS for abuse of power and disrespecting female students, and further rusticate the dean and sub-deans for mentally harassing the students.
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