Bodoland University gets new VC: Dr Babulal Ahuja assures fast resolution of issues

In a significant development today, Dr Babulal Ahuja today assumed office as the Vice-Chancellor of the Bodoland University, marking a new beginning following intermittent protests seeking removal of the earlier VC (Laishram Ladu Singh).

The new Vice-chancellor was accorded a traditional welcome on his arrival.

After assuming office, VC Babulal Ahuja spoke to newspersons and said, “I have just joined and I understand the basic problems of this University. I will try to resolve all the problems of this university as fast as possible, so that this University can be timely uplifted. I am here to work with honesty, full accountability, full integration. So, I will be available to my faculty, my students anytime and I hope that within my tenure this university will start a new era of research and education. There will be multiple disciplinary kind of education in this University as per the NEP 2020.”

It may be mentioned that the Bodo heartland had witnessed massive protests since last year demanding the removal of then VC of Bodoland University Laishram Ladu Singh over his alleged involvement in financial irregularities in the learning institute.

Last year, a team of Special Vigilance Cell of the Chief Minister had arrested Ladu Singh for his involvement in the corruption cases. The vigilance cell had reportedly taken away as many as nine official files from the office chamber of Singh for investigation.

However, Singh could obtain bail very shortly after the arrest and was performing official work of the University despite being arrested.

A case of embezzlement of money from the University was registered against the Vice Chancellor on May 2022.

This irked the students as well as the influential All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) who took different forms of protest and even placing the institute under lock and keys.

Although the Assam Government had asked Laishram Ladu Singh to leave the University, the then VC was reluctant to leave his position.

On October 11, 2023 Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had taken strong exception to this and had assured of necessary lawful action against Laishram Ladu Singh.