Tribal student bodies call for economic blockade from Oct 9

Three tribal student bodies in the state Thursday called for an 'economic blockade' for five days beginning October 9 as the authorities have "failed" to resolve the crisis in the Manipur University, a statement issued by them said.

The three tribal student bodies - All Manipur Tribal Students Union (ATSUM), Kuki Students Organisation GHq (KSO) and All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) - took the decision to call for the economic blockade at the meeting here, the statement said.

They demanded immediate restoration of normalcy in the Manipur University within a weeks time.

"Expressing anguish over holding of thousands of student's career to ransom by some vested interest, the three student bodies also resolved to demand a separate Hill University," the statement said.

Academic activities in Manipur University were paralysed for more than three months after the Manipur University Students Union (MUSU) and Manipur University Teachers Associaiton (MUTA) launched an agitation demanding the removal of vice-chancellor A P Pandey.

The MUSU and MUTA called off the agitation after the Union HRD Ministry set up a committee to probe the allegations against Pandey.

On September 21 police raided the campus and arrested a number of students and teacher on the basis of an FIR lodged by Prof K Yugindro, the acting vice-chancellor.

The MUSU and MUTA are demanding the release of all the arrested students and teachers and withdrawal of security forces from the university campus.