Students resist notice to suspend classes, vacate hostels; four hurt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 06 2014: In a path breaking police crack down on agitating students, police fired several rounds of tear gas canisters, rubber bullets as well as live rounds inside Manipur University campus today allegedly with permission of the MU authority.

Altogether four students were injured in the crack down including one who was hit by a rubber bullet on the head.

Taking strong exception of the MU authority's decision to suspend all theory as well as practical classes apart from closing all the ladies' and men's hostels without giving any reason, students shut the university's main gate at around 10.30 am today.

The enraged students allowed no one to move in and out of the university.

At around 12 noon, a large group of students marched towards A-Block while some others stayed back near the entrance gate.

In front of A-Block, a tense stand-off broke out between students and police personnel on the question of allowing the students to enter the A-Block.

In the meantime, police reinforcement arrived and the agitating students were told that teachers were holding a meeting and the VC would come out after the meeting.

Police also advised the students to put across their views and grievances after the VC comes out from the meeting.

Even after waiting for more than 20 minutes, the VC did not come out.

At this, the infuriated students breached past the police barricade, broke down A-Block's gate which was then locked and went up to the VC's chamber.

The students were stop- ped there by Home Guards, MR and police personnel.

As the students and the security personnel were engaged in a heated altercation, MU Students Welfare Dean RK Hemkumar arrived at the scene.

On seeing Hemkumar, the students asked him to go back.

Hemkumar insisted that there was still time to discuss the matter peacefully.

Asking the students to wait for him for a few minutes, Hemkumar went inside A-Block.

But no one came out from the meeting room and communication sent out which infuriated the students all the more.

Soon some students started smashing flower-pots kept near the VC's chamber.

They also vandalised two CCTV cameras installed there.

As the such situation became highly volatile, the VC finally came out at around 2 pm.

The VC told the students that classes were suspended and hostels vacated temporarily because of students' protest agitation.

Maintaining that classes would remain suspended until the situation calms down completely, the VC personally asked all hostellers to vacate their hostels .

Saying this he went inside.

The VC's alleged non-compromising statements made the students all the more furious and they started pelting stones at A-Block.

At first, the security personnel did not react.

But after a few minutes, some MPS officers shouted something like "We have received order, start shooting".

In the next moment, a volley of tear gas canisters and rubber bullets were fired towards the agitating students.

Police also fired several rounds of rubber bullets.

One Lanchenba, a 3rd Semester student of MA Political Science was hit by a rubber bullet on the head and he fell on the ground unconscious.

Lanchenba was immediately rushed to RIMS.

Three other students namely Nandini Kumam, Amla Devi and Ch Lalita also sustained injuries.

Slowly and steadily, police drove back the students up to the university's bus stand.

Speaking to media persons, one hosteller Romen Soibam remarked that the MU authority's decision was quite awkward.

"I came to the hostel yesterday and I was told to go back this morning.

This is simply absurd", Romen said.

He alleged that MU Registrar N Lokendro is quite incompetent.

The term for a Registrar is just three years but he has been holding the post for more than seven years with the VC's blessing.

On the other hand, one member of the MU OBC and SC Students Union accused the MU authority of projecting their democratic agitation in wrong light.

Attempt to enforce an legislation which is not at all applicable in Manipur and subsequent notice to suspend classes and vacate hostels is not acceptable.

Late reports informed that around 100 students belonging to far off places who could not vacate their hostels due to different reasons were evicted from their hostels with the help of security forces at around 7.30 pm.

Left with no other option, the students made necessary preparations to put up the night at Canchipur Keithel.

Comment