Imphal, June 21 2009: The DESAM statement pointed out that though the killing incident was very clear as such, the police continued to launch the manhunt to arrest AMSU and DESAM members.

Among the 13 arrested students, five have been detained under NSA while the others have been freed on bail.

The statement rhetorically asked the probable reason behind the detention of five students under NSA after a militant group claimed hands on the killing.

It also posed why the NSA has been slammed on the students instead of booking them under a criminal case, if in case they are accused of involving in the killing.

In the light of these, DESAM put forth the following statement: It will not be wrong to assert that the students have been detained under NSA for other reasons that were not related with the killing of Prof Islamuddin.

It stated that why is it necessary to slam NSA against the students when an involved IRB jawan had already surrendered to the police.

On the foundation of Section 3 (2) of the NSA, there is no reason to detain the students under NSA, the statement reasoned.

Asserting that they are students who have worked for ushering in quality education during their spare time, the statement categorically stated that the students have neither carried out any work that can pose a threat to the national security nor disturb public order.

It also reasoned that even in case the students are suspected to be involved in the killing of Prof Islamuddin, booking them under NSA would be an overact.

Pointing out that Mayawati was derided for unrestrained booking of people under NSA, the DESAM statement also cautioned that the NSA could be 'Insecurity Act' if overused.

The statement reasoned that according to the 'Preventive Detention' law under the Indian Constitution, provision has been made for the approval of the semi-judicial advisory board to all persons detained under NSA.

It also provided that after the approval of the advisory board, the Judiciary (High/Supreme Court) has the power to revoke the case of NSA after conducting judiciary review.

On the rationale that booking a student under NSA means ruining his/her career, the statement argued that at least two academic years have to be lost by a student who has been detained under NSA.

The DESAM statement observed that the detention of students under NSA, not even by a Court's order rather through executive power, in connection with Prof Islamuddin's killing is nothing but a policy to subvert the students' unions and to besmirch the reputation of the students' unions.

Saying that militants have been generally booked under NSA in Manipur, it strikes a chord that the Act has not been registered against any crime relating to killing at large.

The statement pointed out that people of the state could feel that students are terrorists if they are detained under NSA.

It stated that it would not be wrong to assert that the measures to suppress the militants have been used against students' community, which must not be done in democratic country like India.

Asserting that laying hands on teachers is an unforgivable crime and a curse as teachers are personification of god for students, the statement noted that relating the students with the killing of Prof Islamuddin is a ploy to pooh the students' bodies.

In other perspective, the detention of students under NSA in connection with the killing of Prof Islamuddin exposes its weak point and its efforts to shield its employees.

It alleged that the government has hand in the killing when viewed in larger perspective.

It stated that the government is registering NSA against the students to shield its personnel after an IRB Jawan submitted to the government and even after an allegation was made by a militant group that four IRB personnel were involved in the killing.

The statement further alleged that the students were detained under NSA to defend its failure and faults while contending that the government and its intelligence have failed to contain and detect the insecurity in MU prior to the incident.

The students might have been detained to show that the case has been solved, but this is a very wrong step on the part of the politics played by the government, it noted.

Rather than being the 'National Security Act,' it could turn out to be a 'National Insecurity Act,' which can retard the economy, disturb the public order, and break down the state's security.

The detention of students is also a move to suppress the civil society, it charged while also lamenting that the state government has tried to undermine the civil society instead of uplifting it.

Making its demands clear, the DESAM statement conveyed that the students' body is demanding the government to produce white paper on the killing of Prof Islamuddin and urged to release the students immediately.

Alleging the government of taking measures to invite students' movement for the release of the students, the statement ruled the possibility of taking up various intense yet democratic and peaceful forms of protest in future.

Asserting that the government still remains adamant to the agitations � sit in protest and protest rally, it warned of taking up road blockade, gherao-ing educational institutions, boycotting leaders, imposing indefinite bandh.

It added that the deaf, blind, and in-understandable government should be taught a lesson.

(Concluded) .

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