14 students hurt in police crackdown
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 03 2015: JCILPS Student Wing has called a 48-hour State wide total shutdown beginning 6 pm of August 4 (Tuesday) to register protest against the injuries caused to 14 students in police crackdown on Monday.

A press meet was held at the office of Manipur Students' Federation during which the general strike was announced by Oinam Nandababu, convenor of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) Student Wing.

Fourteen students were hurt, some of them seriously, when they were allegedly beaten up by police personnel in front of the State Secretariat in the afternoon.

They were rushed to JNIMS and RIMS hospitals.

The students who sustained injuries in police crackdown were Ph Roshini of Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School, Thokchom Monika and Reeri of TG Higher Secondary School, Rajesh (general secretary) of Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School, Suresh, Oinam Lanchenba and Surjit of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School, Khundrakpam Thoibisana, Thongam Malemnganba, Jison, Linthoi and Md Fazal of Lamlong Higher Secondary School, Asish from Kiyamngei and Thonglen from Heirok.

14 students hurt in police crackdown

Eight of them were taken to JNIMS and six were treated at RIMS.

Nandababu added that the Student Wing condemned the police crackdown against student protesters who were demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) and punishment to all cops responsible for the death of Sapam Robinhood.

Hundreds of students from Higher Secondary Schools in Imphal tried to storm the office of the Education Minister in the afternoon when a violent stand-off ensued between police and the protesters.

The Medical help Line for ILP Movement said 14 students were hurt in police action in the incident.

Oinam Nandababu said the students were trying to surrender text books to Education Minister M Okendro and to demand implementation of ILPS and punishment to the police personnel involved in the killing of Sapam Robinhood.

How can students learn their lessons with a free mind at the moment as the lifeless body of Sapam Robinhood is still lying unclaimed in JNIMS mortuary?, he asked.

Robinhood had sacrificed his life believing that Right to Life is more important than Life to Education, he said and added that the students intended to surrender text books in line with his spirit.

JCILPS Student Wing condemns the brutality of the police against the students in the strongest terms, Nandababu reiterated.

The State Government is deploying riot police now in all educational institutes which were re-opened on Monday, Nandababau said and accused the Government of closing and opening school and colleges anytime at its will.

He said the presence of police in educational institutes has vitiated the academic atmosphere and that students are feeling uneasiness.

Al educational institutes in Imphal East and Imphal West were closed down by an order of the State Government since July 9 in the aftermath of the death of Sapam Robinhood.

The student leader condemned the police for using excessive force while confronting student protesters.

He said girl students were beaten and kicked and punched all over their bodies including faces by the police.

"We condemn such brutalities of the police," he added.

Nandababu then announced that a 48-hour Manipur wide shutdown will be called from 6 pm of August 4 to denounce Monday's police action against student protesters and to condemen the Government for its failure to introduce ILPS and punish the police personnel involved in the killing of Sapam Robinhood.

Meanwhile, the Joint Students' Union of Government Higher Secondary Schools has announced that all Government institutions, private and Government educational institutions and private coaching centres will be closed down from Monday.

One of the representatives of the union, Asish who was also present at the press meet said the step has been taken up along the lines of the JCILPS Student Wing.

He claimed that police are threatening volunteers of the union by coming to their homes at night time since the last few days.

Asish warned that those individuals who are found defying the strike should be held responsible for any unwanted incident.