Student bodies point to racial profiling
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, August 21 2012: The exodus of North East students and other workers including professionals from the South Indian cities in the last four or five days is not the outcome of the Assam violence but is a case of racial profiling of the people of the region, the Joint Students' Coordination Committee (JSCC) in Manipur said today.

The Joint Students' Co-ordination Committee consists of Pangal Students' Organisation, Kuki Students' Organisation, Tangkhul Ka-tamnao Saklong, Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur.

These students' body under the aegis of JSCC addressed a joint press conference at the headquarters of All Manipur Students' Union here at DM College campus where the leaders of various student organisations from the hills were also present.

Thokchom Suresh, a member of JSCC said Northeast students and other people fleeing Bangalore, Pune and Hydrabad are not safe on their way because no security measures have been taken up for them though two special trains are being arranged to transport them home.

He alleged taht North East people residing in these cities are not provided with adequate security even though some particular areas are secured and appealed the Government to take up proper steps instead of politicisng the sensitive issue.

Another JSCC member Moirangthem Angamba said the Government is still unable to take up stringent action against the Pune incident wherein a Manipuri student was severely beaten up and added that it has remained silent on the follow up incidents occuring in the Southern States.

It is really unfortunate that the State Government has not deemed it fit to talk to the West Bengal Government in connection with the killing of Sarif Ahmad, Angamba said.

He said it would be right for the State Government if it sends a Ministerial team to West Bengal to find out the facts and circumstances on the killing of Sarif instead of deputing police officials there for monitoring the situation.

Postponing it by calling all the incidents as rumours will lead to nothing, he suggested saying the state government should provide security to all the Manipuris on their way from Guwahati to the state.

Leaders of Pangal Students' Organisation, Kuki Students' Organisation, Tangkhul Katamnao SaKlong, Zeliangrong Students' Union of Manipur and JSCC, an umbrella body of six student organisations participated at the press conference also strongly condemned the killing of Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur secretary by armed men.

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