Manipur Unrest: University Students demand alternative arrangement for continuation of different courses

Various Medical students of Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Manipur Institute of Technology (MIT) , Research Scholars and Post-Graduate students of Manipur University, Students from various Nursing Institute today shared their problems which they faced in the wake of ethnic violence that began from the 3rd of May,2023.

The students appealed the central government to provide alternative arrangement so that they can continue with their academic studies.

Sharing their grievances today at Churachandpur College, some of the students said that all their important educational documents were burnt down by the mobs in on the fateful night of May 3, and fervently appealed the concerned authority to look into the matter to get back all the certificates so that their future career is not affected.

Regarding the alleged torture meted out in Churchandpur Medical College by some of the Meitei students, a student of Churachandpur Medical College clarified that the statement of his friend Thokcham Mangal was totally false and baseless. The student clarified that there was not any group or mob who came and attack the college in the wee hours of ethnic violence in Churachandpur. Instead, some some volunteers came for rescuing the students and protected the college from being damage.

"There are no educational document of the students being destroyed, no beating and snatching away of phones or ill treatment of the students in Churachandpur Medical College," the student clarified.

Narrating his ordeal on the fateful night of May 3, a doctor named Margaret D Sinate, who studied Medicine from RIMS, said that they get the chance to study medicine in RIMS, the students belonging to Kuki-Zo community asked the Director of RIMS for protection from the mob violence but enough security protection was not given, especially to the boys hostel. She said the Director assured them that he would provide full security protection but they were working in their own space.

"When our own Church inside the RIMS Campus, where they used to gather and worship, was burned down, we feel that were not secure, thus running around pretending that we were the same from Meitei community. That is how we escaped," she said, adding that they somehow get to the CRPF vehicle and went to the CRPF camp for safety.

She also said that going back to Imphal was not an option anymore, the same was also for her friends from Mizoram. She requested the National Medical council and the central government to look into their problems.

One doctor named Pricilla, pursuing her Post-graduation course in RIMS Imphal, said that at the time when the incident broke out she was not in station and her house situated in Super Market, Lamphel, was the first that felt under attack and all her documents were thus burnt down. She said she would be completing her course on 10 June and raised a pertinent question on as to whether she would be safe to go back to Imphal for completing her course.

A Research Scholar from Manipur University said that he was staying in MU Hostel since 2011 and it was like his second home. But when the incident happened, he saw the other scholars belonging to Meitei community joining the mob and thereafter, the hostels were attacked. All my belongings and educational documents have been burnt down, he said.

Another student on the condition of anonymity narrated that when they were not safe on the night of May 3 at around 12AM to 1AM, they were about to be taken to the Army camp. But the Army too were attacked and the vehicle where they were taken out from the MU Hostel was blocked by the mob. The vehicle tyres were deflated and their Adhaar cards were checked. He said the students were thus physically attacked and due to which the army conducted blank-fire. After which, the the mob run away and they managed to reach to the army camp.

Another BDS student in JNIMS said that even when the situation is not improved till date, the authorities are planning to conduct an examination from 19/20 June. He raised a question asking as to whether the students from Kuki-Zo community are a lesser students of JNIMS or an alternative arrangement would be made for them.

The students also reiterated that they have submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, in this regard, and demanded that Manipur University Hill campus or South Campus be set up in Churachandpur and other Hill districts.