MU students detain police officer, overturn bullet proof gypsy
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 12 2011:
Infuriated students of Manipur University detained one police officer who drove inside the University at night and acted rudely to some student hostellers.
Four escort personnel who came along the police officer, however, managed to escape the fury of the agitated students.
The agitated students also over-turned the vehicle in which the police personnel have come upside down.
The incident occurred at around 10.15 pm today.
It may be noted here that entry of people with exception of students and staff, are restricted inside the University campus at night.
The police officer who was detained by the agitated students has been identified as Sub-Inspector P Poujalung.
He is said to be currently posted in Shangsak police station of Ukhrul district.
According to the agitated students, the police team led by Sub-Inspector Poujalung drove their bullet-proof Gypsy inside the University campus.
Poujalung was fully drunk and went straight to Boys' Hostel No.3 where he not only asked many irrelevant questions to some of the students there but also tried to beat them up.
Infuriated at his conduct, student hostellers overpowered Poujalung and attacked him.
Sensing danger, the escort personnel who came along with Poujakung fled from the scene.
Later on, infuriated students over-turned the bullet-proof Gypsy upside down.
On hearing the news of the incident, OC of Imphal Police Station and other Police Officers rushed in.
But they were prevented from entering the campus by the angry slogan shouting students.
Earlier in the day, All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) and Students' Union, Kangleipak (SUK) have jointly petitioned for revival of Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) .
In a representation submitted to the Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, the five student bodies observed that it is imperative to have a democratic body of elected representatives of the students in Manipur University.
However, it is unfortunate that, while conversion of the then State University to a Central University has led to suppression of the democratic rights of the students to have a Union of their own in the campus, it has also legalized the presence of armed security personnel of the state in and around the campus on a permanent basis.
Thus, the students of the University have been always at the receiving end of the whims of the security personnel even to the extent of begging for entry to their respective residential places inside the campus, especially after the official hours.
On the other hand, a large number of non-bonafide people including the self-styled contractors and their workers, simple trespassers, etc have been gaining immediate entry anytime of the day.
The representation jointly signed by General Secretary AMSU, Dipanjit Ningt-houjam, Secretary General DESAM, Moirangthem Angamba, Secretary General KSA, Phoutakpam Manao, General Secretary MSF , Warepam Chitaranjan and President SUK, L Jayantakumar Khuman further pointed out that in the absence of a Union of their own, the students of Manipur University have not only been deprived of their basic rights but also of the opportunities to gather under one common academic platform where they can share experiences and discuss academic issues from different perspectives.
It is ironic that the students are not allowed to have their own Union when every other community in the University including the contractors (MUCA) could have, the joint representation noted.