Silchar | Temporary employees of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar on Thursday resumed their agitation demanding regularisation of their services, with six workers beginning an indefinite hunger strike on the institute premises.

Other members of the NIT Workers’ Union are staging a sit-in in support of the hunger strikers. The employees had earlier launched a protest on August 10 over the same demand. During the agitation, Barak Valley MLA Kishor Nath held discussions with the NIT Dean and Director on August 13, reportedly following a direction from the Chief Minister.

According to the protesters, they were assured that a positive resolution to the issue would be reached by August 24. Based on the assurance, the employees temporarily withdrew their agitation. However, with no resolution reached by the stipulated deadline, the workers resumed their protest and began the indefinite hunger strike on Thursday.

The protesters alleged that the NIT authorities have been delaying the regularisation of their services for several years. They also claimed that four consecutive Gauhati High Court judgments had been delivered in their favour, but the orders were yet to be implemented.

Union leaders alleged that repeated assurances from the authorities had not resulted in concrete action to resolve the issue. The workers said they would continue their agitation until their services are regularised and the court orders are implemented.

The NIT Workers’ Union has warned that the protest could be intensified if no permanent solution is reached by August 30. The union said it could launch a larger mass movement, potentially involving the family members of the employees.

The protesters have maintained that they will not withdraw the agitation until their demand for regularisation is addressed and the court directions are implemented.