IMPHAL: In the face of intense protests demanding the removal of Manipur University (MU) vice-chancellor Adya Prashand Pandey, chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said the VC would be ousted if he is found guilty by the probe panel set up by the Centre to look into the allegations.Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU), MU teachers' Association (MUTA) and MU Staff Association (MUSA) have charged Pandey with financial and administrative irregularities. The central varsity has been shut down by MUSU since June 6, eight days ahead of kicking off its stir on May 30.Stating that his government fully empathises with the MU fraternity, Biren said as per the wish of MUTA, MUSU and MUSA, the state government persuaded the Centre to form a committee headed by a retired high court chief justice to investigate the allegations against Pandey. "If professor Pandey is found guilty, he will be ousted," Biren said while talking to reporters."We have met governor Najma Heptulla and appraised her of the situation and she has messaged the President about the gravity of the situation. I think some positive response will come," said the CM.The restructured probe panel set up by the union Human Resources Development (HRD) ministry is headed by retired acting chief justice of Meghalaya High Court T Nandakumar Singh. J K Tripathi, joint secretary UGC, and Surat Singh, deputy secretary, higher education HRD, are the two members of the committee. The MU fraternity, however, objected to the panel saying it felt dismayed by the amorphous nature of the reconstituted committee which was neither independent nor judicial.A statement released jointly by MUTA, MUSA and MUSU said they will not extend their co-operation to the panel. Meanwhile, the general strike called by MUSU severely affected normal life in the valley districts on Thursday. Business establishments in Imphal city were closed and no vehicles plied except for emergency and essential services. Educational institutions were shut. However, regular flight services operated.While bandh supporters staged road blocks at various parts of the district, women staged demonstrations demanding ouster of Pandey.

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