Day-02 of college protest ends with tear gas VISHNU NEOPANEY

GANGTOK, 15 July: After the lathicharge of Monday, college students today staged another protest near the Sikkim Government College gate today. The students began their protest blocking the highway at Tadong from around 10 in the morning demanding an apology from the SP East and DC East for Monday’s incident.
The DC was in the college this morning and addressed the students there, even apologizing, an unconditional apology, for yesterday’s incident and informing them of the fee rollback and agreeing to the demand to getting proper medical treatment and reimbursement for injured students. He also informed them of the decision to institute an enquiry into Monday’s incident.
This did not convince the students and they soon barged out of the college campus and took over the highway again.
The students were demanding more, insisting that the SP-East and six other police officers, including Sadar thana in-charge, be suspended first. They refused to accept the offer for an enquiry into the Monday episode.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary, R Ongmu held three rounds of meetings starting at 11 a.m. with the Home Secretary, SC Gupta and ADGP, SD Negi along with ADGP Special Branch and Security Advisor to the Government of Sikkim.  The meeting ended only at 3:30 pm following which the Home Secretary along with ADGP, SD Negi and HRDD Secretary arrived at Tadong to meet the students at around 4:30 pm.
Before the Home Secretary and DGP reached the spot, the district administration imposed section 144 of the CrPC in Tadong area. However, the student protest continued.
“The state administration has kept calm today and has not used force against the students,” the ADGP pointed out. And sure enough, through most of the day, the police which was out in full riot gear, held back even in the face of provocation and it was clear that even when tear gas shelling and order for lathicharge was given, there was no ruthless beating up of students today.
“However, after sudden pelting of stones, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds,” said DIG Range, Dr. MS Tuli.
He also informed that no one has been injured because of the tear gas but vehicles were damaged by the mob, including on case in which a government vehicle was set on fire near the Ford showroom in Tadong below the college.
The student protest today blocked the highway for around 8 hours causing inconvenience to commuters especially school students returning home.
Section144 will remain in effect at Tadong on Wednesday as well.