ITANAGAR : Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) on Wednesday advised an impartial inquiry into the alleged “rowdyism, threats, coercion and intimidation” faced by the Director of the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), describing the incident as a matter of serious concern that must be addressed firmly.

The issue came up during a meeting between the Governor and Arunachal Pradesh Home, Indigenous Affairs, Inter-State Border Affairs and Public Health Engineering Department Minister Mama Natung at Lok Bhavan.

Expressing anguish over the recent developments at NERIST, the Governor said the incident had set a bad example for the youth and must be corrected. He noted that NERIST, one of the premier technical and higher educational institutions in the North East, should remain a safe, secure and conducive environment for learning.

Parnaik emphasised that all stakeholders share the responsibility of protecting the sanctity, reputation and academic atmosphere of educational institutions. He said the management and administration of such institutions should be guided by merit, integrity, dignity, discipline, transparency and accountability.

The Governor further stressed that any act undermining the functioning, credibility or harmony of educational institutions must be dealt with firmly and in accordance with the law to reinforce public confidence in the State’s educational ecosystem.

During the meeting, the two leaders also reviewed the prevailing law and order situation in the State, with particular focus on the NERIST incident.

Natung assured the Governor that the State Government was treating the matter with utmost seriousness and would conduct a thorough investigation. He said appropriate action would be taken against those found responsible and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring a secure environment for students, teachers and staff across Arunachal Pradesh.