Manipur University students stage sit-in protest against acting Vice-Chancellor's remarks

Students of Manipur University on Monday staged a sit-in protest in reaction to acting Vice-Chancellor Prof K Yugindro's remarks that compared them to "terrorists", a students' union leader said. Yugindro, in a letter to the MHRD on October 3, had sought immediate steps from the Centre to "save" the university from the hands of "terrorist-like" agitators. The agitators also sought withdrawal of the "baseless" FIR lodged by him on September 20, followed by a midnight raid by security forces, which led to the arrest of 89 students and teachers.

Of the 89, the police had released all but 15 whom Yugindro had named in the FIR for "wrongful confinement, illegal detention and attempt to murder", when he assumed charge as the acting VC on September 20, M Dayamand, president of Manipur University Students Union, said. The protests come amid the pending second round of talks between the chief secretary, and three prominent tribal student bodies over the imposition of economic blockade for five days from October 9 on all highways of the state.

Talks between the Manipur government and a 16-member delegation of the All Manipur Tribal Students Union (ATSUM), Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) and All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) had failed to arrive at a decision on Sunday over the proposed blockade. ANSAM president Joseph told PTI that the decision on the economic blockade will be decided after the second round of talks with the chief secretary on Monday afternoon.

The ANSAM along with ATSUM and KSO had resolved on October 3 that it would impose the blockade over the "failure of the concerned authorities" to resolve the crisis at the central university. Irked by Yugindro's comments, over 200 students had tried to barge into his residence at Wangkhei area in Imphal East district on Saturday, prompting police personnel to lob tear gas shells to disperse the agitators.

(With inputs from agencies.)