Students protest college poll delay
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 29 2022: Students of various colleges under Manipur University held protests on Thursday after Directorate of Education (U) issued a notification on Wednesday cancelling the students' union elections of colleges, nullifying an earlier notification that had fixed October 6 for the same.

Clashes broke out between the protesting students and police while six students were arrested and four suffered injuries.

Later in the evening, representatives of five student unions namely, AMSU, KSA, AIMS, DESAM and MSF held a meeting with education minister Th Basanta during which an agreement was reached between the unions and the government.

The education minister agreed to unconditionally release the six arrested students along with conducting the college union elections within 15 days.

The six students were subsequently released from police custody.

Earlier in the day, students carried out protests in front of their respective colleges such as Imphal College, Liberal College, Standard College, Oriental College, Thambal Marik College, Manipur College, Naorem Birahari College, Oinam College, Thoubal College and YK College by blocking roads and locking down the colleges.

Some students also stormed the Directorate of Education (U) Office at Nityaipat Chuthek.

Clashes erupted between the students and police after the latter started to disperse the protestors during which two students were injured at Imphal College and Manipur College, while three students of Liberal College were arrested by Heingang police and three protesting in front of Directorate of Education (U) Office were picked up by Imphal Police.

On the other hand, in view of the protests, deputy secretary (higher & technical education) Daryal Juli Anal has issued an order to university & higher education director to release a notification declaring October 1 as holiday for all government and aided colleges.

A press meet was also jointly organised by AMSU, KSA, AIMS, DESAM and MSF demanding that college elections should be held on October 6 as per the earlier notification by Directorate of Education (U).

Addressing media persons at DESAM office, DESAM general secretary Mayengbam Somorjit denounced the decision of Directorate of Education (U) to cancel the college elections.

He noted that a notification for holding the college elections was issued on September 21 with September 28 as the last date for submission of nomination form.

However, the notification for cancelling the election was issued very late in the day.

Somorjit also conveyed the unions' displeasure over authoritarian action of the government and reiterated that the college elections should be held on October 6, failing which they will resort to intense form of agitations.

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