One more school reduced to ashes
Thousands of students form human chain on
Indo-Myanmar road to protest, condemn arson
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 17 2009: A private school in Thoubal district has been burned down by suspected class boycott supporters last night at about 9.10 pm.

Twelve rooms including computer room had been totally destroyed, police as well as local reports said today.

Thousands of students of Thoubal district protested the burning of the school by forming a human chain on the stretch of the Indo-Myanmar section of the NH-39.They expressed strong resentment over the burning of school which they consider as temple of learning.

Thousands of students of various schools in Thoubal district forming human chain to protest acts of arson by miscreants; (inset) charred remains of Standard English High School, Khongjom

Properties of which values are estimated to be around Rs 10 lakh had been reduced to ashes.

Three computer sets and some official documents along with the desk and bench of the class rooms were left only residue before the locals of the area put the fire under control.

Police and fire tender also rushed to the spot to assist the people dousing the fire.

Decrying the burning down of the school, thousands of students of schools in Thoubal district staged protest by forming human chain at various places on the stretch of the road on the Indo-Myanmar section of the NH-39, in front of their respective school.

The protest was organized under the aegis of Private Schools Development Council.

"We could not agree with the burning down of school which the temple of learning," a student participating in the protest.

During the protest, slogans like "Don't victimized students-future pillars of the society, we want to study, allow us to study peacefully, make education-a free zone, etc.

Members of the Private Development Council, Thoubal later submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through Thoubal DC expressing strong condemnation to the burning down of the private school.

In the memorandum, the council also demanded government finding away to allow schools re-open conduct class without any fear by bringing an end to the prevailing deadlock.

It also demanded booking of the culprits behind the arson of schools and opening of security outpost in the school areas apart from demanding action to the fire service station in Thoubal district for not responding timely to the fire burnt incident.

The school, Standard English High School, Khongjom under Kakching police station of Thoubal was the third school which has been burnt down by unknowns who police suspected handy work of the agitating students since schools defying the stir started targeting.

Over 10 schools mostly government run schools had been attacked by the volunteers of the agitating three students' bodies.

Among them major damaged had been caused to at least two schools, Langmeidong Government High School at Kakching in Thoubal district and Kamong High School at Nambol in Bishnupur district.