CM appeals for solution to Manipur University impasse

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Monday appealed to students, teachers and employees of Manipur University to work together to bring a solution rather than prolonging the impasse in the Central university.

The chief minister told reporters here that the state government cannot tolerate any breach of law and order and appealed to all to bring a solution to the impasse in Manipur University.

Singh said since the university falls under the jurisdiction of Union HRD Ministry, the state authorities cannot directly intervene but is committed to restore normalcy and peaceful academic atmosphere.

Meanwhile, a student leader told reporters Monday that students of at least 10 departments of Manipur University will not appear for the ongoing second and fourth semester examination till all the teachers and students arrested by police are released "unconditionally".

With large deployment of security forces in the campus, the student leader who contacted the media from an unspecified location claimed the students are not able to concentrate on their studies as their is a "fear psychosis".

Eighty-nine students and six teachers of Manipur University were arrested on September 21 following an agitation on the institute's campus the day before.

Mobile internet services were suspended in the state for the next five days to avoid circulation of "misinformation and rumours" over the incident.

A team of officers raided the university hostel and the residential quarters around 1am and took the students and the teachers into custody based on a complaint filed by newly appointed Acting Vice Chancellor K Yugindro Singh.

Singh, in his complaint, had said he was "gheraoed" by the agitators for trying to assume charges at the central university, where a prolonged battle between former vice chancellor AP Panday and the students and teachers have hampered academic activities for over four months.

President Ram Nath Kovind, in his capacity as Visitor of the Manipur University, recently placed Pandey under suspension as the inquiry into the allegations of irregularities against him was underway.

K Yugindro Singh was appointed as the Acting VC by the Ministry of Human Resources Department, soon after the suspension of Pandey.