Over 100,000 people protest against militancy in Manipur

Imphal, July 16 : In the biggest ever protest against militants in Manipur, more than a hundred thousand people, mostly school students, recently took out a rally here.

Students, teachers and other sections of the society criticized the attempt of militants to disturb educational institutions through their extortion demands and blasting of bombs in the campus.

"If these disturbances keep on continuing, then surely someday, Manipur students' career would be falling down," said Raingam Singlei, a student, DM College, Imphal.

It also reflected the strong dislike of the new generation for anti-social elements who in the name of ideological battles disturb the peace and prosperity of the state.

"Our children want education and they do not want disturbance. They would like peace and they would like to be provided facilities for education. We would like that education be carried out peacefully without any disturbances," said Sr. PennyRose Chinir, Headmistress, Little Flower School.

Under the banner of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), more than one lakh students, teachers and other staff of nearly three hundred schools of Manipur came out on the roads.

H. Ashirjit Luwang, Acting Vice-President, DESAM, said "It is a campaign against disturbance in education sector. We appeal that the activities which interfere in education should not be carried out."

The rally was held two days after militants' extortion demands prompted the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Thoubal to close down indefinitely, as Little Master English School in Imphal had done earlier in February.

"It is very unlucky for us. There is no security in this school. We are coming only for education. Such demand affects our atmospheric pressure," said Kh. Kishan Singh, a student, Jawahar Novadaya Vidyalaya.

Kh. Radhamani Devi, a parent said, "It is a loss for the public. The school has benefited us a lot, but because of the extortion demands the teachers are not able to concentrate on teaching the students."

Just few days before the rally, militants had thrown bombs at the campus of the prestigious Regional Institute of Medical Science.

ANI