Manipur University acting VC compares students with 'terrorists', triggers outrage
What's the story
Students of Manipur University today staged a sit-in protest in reaction to acting Vice-Chancellor K Yugindro's remarks that compared them to "terrorists", M Dayamand, President of Manipur University Students' Union, said.
Yugindro, in a letter to the HRD Ministry on October 3, had sought immediate steps from the Center to "save" the university from the hands of "terrorist-like" agitators.
Here are more details.
Arrest
Police arrested 89 students, teachers over FIR lodged by VC
The agitators also sought withdrawal of the "baseless" FIR lodged by VC 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", Dayamand said.
Protesters
Decision on economic blockade would be taken after talks
The protests come after talks between the Manipur government and a 16-member delegation of the All Manipur Tribal Students Union (ATSUM), Kuki Students Organization (KSO) and All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) had failed to arrive at a decision yesterday over the proposed blockade for five days from October 9.
Decision on blockade will be taken after second round of talks, said ANSAM President Joseph.
Why blockade?
Students planned blockade over authorities' failure to resolve university's crisis
The ANSAM along with ATSUM and KSO had resolved on October 3 that it would impose blockade over "failure of the concerned authorities" to resolve the crisis at Manipur University.
Irked by Yugindro's comments, over 200 students had tried to barge into his residence at Wangkhei area in Imphal East district Saturday, prompting police personnel to lob tear gas shells to disperse the agitators.