Guwahati, Feb 22: Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), was detained by a police team in Guwahati early Saturday at around 2 AM. The operation was conducted by personnel from the Panbazar Police and the Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police.
Authorities have not yet disclosed specific charges against Hoque. His detention follows previous allegations against USTM by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had accused the institution of distributing fake degrees and other irregularities.
The Meghalaya government and USTM have denied all allegations, stating that the university operates under the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Meghalaya Private University Regulatory Board (MPURB). USTM has also received accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and has been ranked among India’s top universities in various assessments.
USTM officials reiterated their commitment to cooperating with any investigation while maintaining that the institution adheres to all regulatory standards. They also pointed to a pattern of harassment against Hoque and USTM over the years, citing repeated allegations and actions that they claim are baseless and aimed at targeting the institution. Authorities have yet to provide further details regarding the case.