Imphal, June 05: Teachers and non teaching staff of Manipur University numbering more than 300 staged a protest sitting in front the University's gate today against huge monetary demands by UG groups.

Even though academic activities were not affected by the protest, the whole administrative affairs of the University were stalled for the day as a result of the protest sitting.

Placards which read as "Academics grow with freedom not with imposition", "We are academicians, not collection agents", "Save Manipur University to save Manipur" etc were also put up at the protest venue.

Participating in the protest sitting organised under the aegis of the Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA) and Manipur University Staff Association (MUSA), Vice-Chancellor C Amuba appealed to all UG groups to withdraw their monetary demands and threats so as not to disturb academic atmosphere of the University.

Speaking to media persons, MUTA president M Ranjit said that several UG groups have been demanding monetary demands from teachers as well as staff of the University besides interfering in administrative matters like admission.

While some UG groups demand certain percentage of the monthly salaries on monthly basis, some others impose 'tax' on annual basis, he disclosed.

Stating that such demands have been causing severe difficulties to the teachers and staff of the University, Ranjit appealed for withdrawal of all the demands.

Left with no other option, the teachers and staff were forced to stage the protest sitting, said MUSA president L Kesho.

The scourge of monetary demands had recently forced closure of brick kilns in Patsoi area and stone crushers in Sekmai area.

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