By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: One and half years on, the family of slain Manipur University teacher Md Islamuddin is awaiting justice. While the country’s premier investigating agency CBI took up the case couple of months after the murder of professor of economics, the culprits are yet to be brought to book.
On May 25, 2009, some gunmen shot dead Proctor of Manipur University Prof Md Islamuddin inside the campus of the University at around 12 noon. Eyewitnesses said that three persons on two Kinetic Honda scooters were seen coming from the side of the boys’ hostel of the university. After the murder they fled to the same direction. While one of them was on one Kinetic Honda the other two were on the other following close behind. Prof Islamuddin was in the Library and he came out to reach his car on his way to Economics Department where he taught. As soon as he came out the gunmen shot at his leg and then two shots were fired towards his chest. After shooting him, the gunmen left towards the boys’ hostel and fled. The incident shocked the entire state and specially the academic community in the Manipur University campus. Manipur University is a central university and it has an army camp inside the campus.
Prof Md Islamuddin
Islamuddin was declared brought dead at the RIMS hospital in Imphal at around 12:35 PM. Professor of Economics, Md Islamuddin was the Dean of Students’ Welfare of the University before taking over the charge of Proctor.
His widow Farhana Bibi, 47, remembers the day. Farhana, who teaches at Thanju Girls Primary School situated at a short distance from the University campus, said: “In the morning we had our breakfast and at around 9 am he dropped me at the school and then he went to the State Bank of India branch in the university campus and sent some money to our son Arif Muhammed who is studying in Chennai. My two sons and one daughter study out of the state. Anisul Alam and Akbari Jahan are doing Ph.D. in Gauhati University. We heard that the killers were wearing raincoat. Three shots were found in his body — one on the thigh and two in the left abdomen. As soon as I came to know of his death, I fainted and was in the hospital for a week.”
Islamuddin’s eldest son Anisul Alam said that the boys’ hostel was raided that day and some students were arrested under National Security Act. According to Anisul, the motive behind the murder was the students’ body election where his father was made a scapegoat. “My father would have a prosperous career. He would have become the vice chancellor someday. He was very senior and learned person,” said Anisul adding that Prof Islamuddin was a simple person who believed in simple living and high thinking and was very caring as father.
Islamuddin did high schooling in Yaripok, Imphal and did his Masters’ and Ph.D. from the branch of Jawaharlal Nehru University situated at the Manipur University campus. He joined the university on 22 February, 1985 as assistant professor.
The murder case was handed over to CBI for investigation and CBI started its work on July 8, 2009.Anisul informed that three persons are involved in the killing and they are one Chaukidar Indra Kumar, library attendant Shyam and one IRB personnel Dhemji. Another killer Jayanta is still absconding.
Anisul believes that the untimely death of his father has created fear psychosis among the academics and no one feels safe in the campus. The family still lives in the university staff quarters and Anisul is now working as Assistant Registrar in the same university.
Anisul Alam and Farhana Bibi, sun and widow of Prof Islamuddin
Anisul regrets that there is a discrimination against the minority community in Manipur and as a result his father’s case didn’t get much priority either in the media or in the administration. Farhana Bibi says: “Life will never be like before. Whole situation has turned upside down. Anisul and Akbari who were doing Ph.D. in Gauhati University have stopped their study for last one year. We live with uncertainty and fear.” The family now waits for the CBI investigation reaching a conclusion and prays that the killers be behind the bars soon.
Academic details of Prof Islamuddin
Academic Contributions
List of Research Papers:
1. “Importance of Manpower Planning in India”. Azad High School Magazine, 1976, Imphal.
2. “The Economy of Nagaland-Problems and Potentials” Seminar on I.R.D.P., 1985, M.U.
3. “Co-operation and Economic Development of Manipur” Leilangba Vol.1, No.4, Oct-Dec. 1986.
4. “Seventeen Years of Nationalized Banking in Manipur” Manipur University Research Journal, 1986.
5. “Public Sector Banks and Priority Sector Financing- Need for Conceptual and Policy Changes”. Leilangba, Vol.2, No.4, Oct-Dec. 1987, Imphal.
6. “Production and Marketing of Vegetables in Manipur” Manipur University Research Journal, 1987.
7. “Cropping Pattern and Cropping Intensity in Manipur” Manipur University Research Journal, 1987.
8. “Production and Productivity Trends in Indian Agriculture- A Note”, Anvesak, Vol.2. No.17, Dec. 1987, Ahmedabad.
9. “Development of Irrigation Potentials in North-East India” Anvesak, Vol.2. No.18, June 1988, Ahmedabad.
10. “Need for Development and Strengthening of Marketing Co-operative in Manipur”. Manipur Mail Feb.24-28, 1989.
11. “Development of Tribals and Other Backward Classes in Manipur”, Social Research, 1991, Shillong.
12. “Nehru & Economic Planning in India’, Nehru Centenary Seminar, 1988, M.U.
13. Land Ownership and Land Use System in Churanchandpur District: Manipur, Assam Economic Journal, Vol. XIII 2000, Dibrugarh.
14. Land Ownership and Land Use system of Nine Tribes of Chandel District: Manipur, Assam Economic Review, 2000, Guwahati.
Research Project:
Government of Manipur Project on “Land-based and Crop-based Planning in Manipur”.
Book Reviews:
Reviewed following three books, which appeared in New Directions, a Journal of Book Reviews Published by Manipur University.
a) Agriculture in North-East India by AK Agarwal.
b) Rural Development in India since Independence by K. Deb.
c) Economic structure of Indian Agriculture by A.N.Sharma.
Post-Doctoral Research:
Undertaken Post-Doctoral Research work on “Policy Planning for Agricultural Development in North East India”.
Academic/ Administrative Experiences & Involvements
1. Proctor, Manipur University.
2. Dean of Students’ Welfare.
3. 3 years as Head, Department of Economics.
4. 10 years as member of the Syndicate/ Senate/ Academic Council.
5. Member of the Board of Studies, Mizoram University.
6. Member of the Banking Service Recruitment Board of N.E. Region of India.
7. Member, North Eastern Economic Association.
8. Member, Indian Economic Association.
9. Member, Indian Institute of Public Administration.
10. Member, Advisory Board of Adult, Continuing Education & Extension, Manipur University.
11. Member, SISI, Advisory Board, Manipur.
12. Member, Programme Advisory Committee, Institute of Co-operative Management, Imphal.
13. Member, Committee for Grant of Permanent Affiliation, Manipur University.
14. Represents MU to the Managing Committees of different colleges in Manipur.
15. Member, Indian Academy of Social Sciences, Allahabad.
16. Member, Manipur Historical Society, Imphal.
17. Member, All India Muslim Educational Society, Calicut.
18. Member, All Manipur Muslim Educational Society, Imphal.
19. Member, All Manipur Muslim Educational, Social and Cultural Organization, Imphal.