MUSU revival stir gets violent
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 23 2014 : Atleast six volunteers of Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) Revival Demand Committee sustained injuries in police crackdown during a violent protest near the Vice Chancellor's office chamber this afternoon.

In quelling the violence unleashed by the agitated students, who broke open the collapsable gate near the VC's office chamber and destroyed flower pots and windows, six of the protestors suffered injuries in the ensuing scuffle and (lathi) baton charge by the security personnel.

Even as today's agitation began on a peaceful note with the varsity students staging sit-in-protest at the MU campus the demand for reviving MUSU got more vocal and physical as effigies of the VC, Union Human Resource Minister and the president of India were consigned to flames along with raising slogans and some of the protestors insisting that they meet VC for a definite stand on the issue.

Effigies of the VC, HRD-Minister and president of India

While initial attempt by the security personnel deployed in the campus to foil the agitated students from reaching the VC's office chamber at the Administration Block (A-Block) failed, arrival of security reinforcement ensured that the students did not barge into the VC's office.

Apparently aware of the commotion outside, the VC Prof HNK Sharma came out informing the students that the issue of reviving MUSU has already been intimated to the Manipur Governor and awaiting final word from the President of India.

Besides stating that the Governor has conveyed the issue to the Union Minister for higher Education Palam Raju, the VC also suggested that a delegation of the Committee sort out the matter with the Governor which however evoked strong reaction from the students who pointed out that such utterances and assurances have been familiar excuses by the MU authorities for the last 3-4 years.

With the students insisting that the VC instantly declare revival of MUSU and Prof HNK Sharma retreating toward his office saying that making a declaration is not his prerogative, the students accused the VC of lacking commitment in redressing grievances of the varsity students, called the VC incompetent to hold such an important office and subsequently tried to lock up office room of the VC and A-Block entrance gate.

When the students barged to the A-Block, started to take apart the collapsable gate near the VC's office room and pulled down flower pots, the security force personnel swung into action and herded away the students from A-Block.

Even as MUSU-RDC convenor Thokchom Suresh announced that all academic activities will remain suspended that A-Block shut till the demand has been honoured, the VC reappeared and mollified the Committee volunteers that he would arrange a meeting with the Governor at the earliest possible to discuss/settle the issue.