Police lathi-charge student protesters
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, February 26 2015:
Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse a group of about 300 students backed by their guardians who were attempting to storm the State Assembly Complex on Thursday to register their protest against non-receipt of admit cards from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) .
Around a dozen were injured in the police action.
Among them, four including three girl students were rushed to RIMS Hospital as they sustained minor injuries.
The students were from five educational institutions - Aakash Institute of Science and Arts, Aakash Higher Secondary School, Central Institute of Science and Ram Krishna Higher Secondary School who were yet to receive admit cards from CBSE for appearing in the CBSE conducted exams for Class X and XII beginning March 2 .
On Thursday, the students backed by their guardians held a protest rally on the streets in Imphal making an attempt to draw the attention of the legislators who were attending the ongoing Budget Session of the Assembly.
The rally originated from Thangmeiband's Muji Khul and marched towards the Assembly.
Later, State Police IGP IK Muivah arrived on the spot and convinced the agitating students and guardians about the prevailing security situation in and around the Assembly Complex, particularly during the Session.
The police arranged a meeting between representatives of the students and the State Education Commissioner.
In the meeting, the commissioner reportedly told the students to send school authorities to his office so as to ascertain the reason behind the non-issuance of admit cards.
However, the student representatives informed the commissioner that school authorities have gone missing since the last few days and hence they were helpless.
2000 students likely to miss board exams .
As many as 2000 students of the State are likely to miss out the CBSE Class X and XII exams.
Admit cards have been denied to these 2000 students from different schools in Imphal which are not affiliated to CBSE.
Taking serious note of the issue, United Committee Manipur (UCM) has urged the State Government to arrange a "special examination" for the 2000-odd students.
UCM also condemned the police action on the students during the day, said UCM President Y Nabachandra in a press meet at the Committee's office.
While urging the Government not to blame the guardians, UCM asked the authorities not to neglect the issue.
Nabachandra said those responsible for the current issue should be booked.
UCM has also further demanded that the Government of Manipur ban all unrecognised schools and colleges which had no proper infrastructure.