Demanding resumption of classes...Students ransack college furniture
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 28 2015 :
Students of a college in Imphal today ransacked properties of their college, pouring their anguish over the non-conduct of their classes for days owing to cease-work strike of the lecturers.
Classes in all the Government colleges in the State have remained suspended since February 18 after the teachers under the banner of the All Manipur College Teachers' Association (AMCTA) took up a cease-work strike, pressing the State Government to fulfill their long pending demands.
Noting seriously the impact being given to the students by the cease-work strike, Coordination Committee of Colleges Student Union Manipur (COCOCSUM), an apex body of student unions of colleges in Manipur had on February 24 last served an ultimatum to the authority of the State to resolve the impasse with the teachers within three-days time which has already expired.
When no development was seen even after the set deadline expired, students of Manipur College, Imphal today rose and demonstrated inside their college campus demanding immediate resumption of classes.
The students later dragged out desks and benches and set them on fire around noon.
However, timely intervention of the police saved the furniture from total destruction.
The agitating students said that they were compelled to agitate as their classes have remained suspended following the agitation of AMCTA.
Their demand has nothing to do with the cease work strike of the AMCTA, they said, adding that the only demand for them is to conduct classes in the college regularly.
On the initiative of the police, the agitating students called on the Principal of the college who assured to resume regular classes from Monday, following which the students calmed down.
However, the students threatened to resume their stir if the Principal fails to implement the assurance.