Kohima, March 15: The Post-Graduate Students? Union (PGSU) of Nagaland University, who went on a rampage on Monday, today claimed they had received a ?positive response? from the Union ministry of human resources development on their plea for the removal of vice-chancellor G.D. Sharma.

A source said the registrar of the university received a letter from the Union ministry of human resources development asking for a list of probable candidates to take charge as acting vice-chancellor. The university sent the list yesterday.

Student union president Thonsenlo Magh said Monday?s violence could have been avoided if they were told the details of the letter received from the ministry. The past two days have been peaceful following the Kohima deputy commissioner?s decision to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the area.

Yesterday, minister for higher education Shur-hozelie Liezietsu said some of the allegations against Sharma were ?wild?. ?The university has shown us account numbers in which funds have been deposited and since it is a fixed deposit, the interest cannot be embezzled,? he said.

The Nagaland University Teachers? Association (NUTA) had allegedly told students that the money was being put in the vice-chancellor?s account. Liezietsu said NUTA ?is too wise?. He said if the varsity aimed to be a centre of excellence, violent protests were not the way to express discontent.

Whereas students prote-sted against the delay in setting up of an engineering college and a management institute, the minister revealed that the ?all India technical committee? is yet to give its approval for setting up of the colleges. He added that land had not been selected for the colleges in the Kohima campus of the university.

Nagaland University has three campuses, including Lumami in Zunheboto district and an agricultural campus at Medziphema in Dimapur district.

Students refuted the minister?s statement arguing that they are protesting against the slow development of the university.

Magh accused Sharma of delaying development of the campus although funds were available.