Students storm into Edn Minister's office
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 14 2016: Enraged students of Government Polytechnic dismantled security check door of Old Secretariat building before storming into Education Minister's office at Old Secretariat complex today at around 3.30 pm.

Meanwhile, following an assurance from the Education Minister, students of Govt Polytechnic announced its decision to revoke the class boycott stir and resumption of normal class from tomorrow.

Normal class at Govt Polytechnic was affected due to the damage caused to the institute's building by the earthquake on Jan 4 and the strike launched by the teachers regarding the appointment of a new Principal of the College since the past few days.

The students today closed the main entrance gate of the college today and burnt down the furniture of the college near the main entrance gate.

Speaking to the media persons, one of the agitating students of the college stated that till today the department concerned has failed to take up any kind of positive measures regarding their demands as assured to them during their last meeting with the officials concerned.

Some students of the college came up till the Old Secretariat complex and stormed the Education Minister's office.

A team of Imphal West district police led by SDPO A Ghanashyam Sharma arrived at the spot to control the enraged students who were already inside the Minister's office.

The police later took four students' representatives to the Minister for a meeting.

The students held talk with the Minister for about 30 minutes.

Premkumar, general secretary of the college's students' union, who was among the student delegates who met the Minister said that the Minister assured to improve the infrastructure of the institute within five days.

He also reportedly urged the students to resume normal classes from tomorrow.

He said that as per the assurance given by the Education Minister, they decided to revoke the class boycott agitation and resume normal class from tomorrow.

It may be mentioned that the main academic block of the institute was badly damaged by the recent earthquake rendering it useless.

Since then the institute has been facing acute shortage of classrooms and laboratories affecting normal classes.

Temporary classrooms were used.

However, the temporary arrangement made by the institute's authorities is not conducive for the smooth functioning of the classes, the students said.

The students have also been demanding the Government to restore the class rooms of the Polytechnic which are being occupied by the NIT and MIT.

They have also demanded adequate water supply and electricity and proper toilet facilities, the students said.

Other demands also included repairing of both the boys and girls hostels and upgradation of the library.

Protesting alleged indifferent attitude of the department concerned, students of the college announced class boycott stir on February 1 where enraged students of the college burnt down the furniture of the college.

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