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IMPHAL, February 26
Police today lathi charged to disperse a group of about 300 students backed by their guardians from five institutions, who attempted to storm the state Assembly complex.
Around a dozen injured in the police action. Among them four including three girl students were hospitalized at RIMS hospital. They were discharged after attending medical treatment as they sustained minor injuries, hospital sources said. The students belong to Aakash Institute of Science and Arts, Aakash Higher Secondary School, Central Institute of Science and Ram Krishna Higher Secondary School who have not received admit cards from CBSE to appear in the upcoming CBSE conducted exams.
The CBSE conducted exams for Class-X and Class-XII are due to commence from March 2 and with only four day left to commence the exam, the students are in a condition to miss the exams.
The Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) had also recently, in the wake of ransacking two of the schools and protest of the students, alleged the five schools which the students are to receive their admit cards were not recognized by the CBSE authority.
The students backed by their guardians marched a protest rally on the streets in Imphal with an intention to storm the Assembly complex in a bid to draw the attention of the legislators as the winter session is currently underway.
The rally participated by around 300 students originated from Thangmeiband’s Muji Khul and marched towards the Assembly. Police blocked them near the THAU ground only few meters to reach the main entrance gate of the Assembly complex. When the students tried to march forward by breaking the police barricade, police had to lathi-charged them to disperse.
In the police action many students injured. Some of them even broke down helpless to the police action. Some of them fainted on the spot which the police in action compelled to rescue them.
Later state police IGP IK Muivah arrived and convinced the agitating\ students and guardians about the prevailing security situation in and around the Assembly complex, particularly during the session.
Later, the police arranged representatives of the students to meet with state education commissioner who reported told the students to send authorities of their schools so that he might know the reason behind the non-issue of their admit card.
However, the student representatives informed the commissioner that authorities of their schools have been missing since the last few days and they were helpless.
The students who came out without getting a positive response later met with MLA Th Shyamkumar of Trinamool Congress on his way back from the Assembly sitting.
He reportedly told the students to come to his official quarters in Imphal and discuss on their grievances.
