Militants target Manipur schools

Imphal, Sept 27 : Militancy has affiliation to none. Their language is the language of violence for various reasons - political, religious or ideological. Manipur is a victim of such militancy. If Manipur Rural Bank is the victim of militancy so is the state's popular educational institution, Don Bosco School.

Extortion demand of the militants, served to the school and the threat to the lives of the teachers forced the school to close down for an indefinite period.

Three branches of Don Bosco School located in Chingmeirong, Langjing and Pheiyeng of Manipur have been non-functional for the last ten days. This has affected the future of hundreds of students who are forced to sit idle at home.

In a state where there is a lack of educational infrastructure and not many good schools to name, the closure of a popular school is unfortunate.

Ningthoujam Binodkuamr Singh, a teacher in Manipur said that such closure of schools was a big loss to students. "Schools are important in a child's growth. Educational institutes should be free, that is what everyone has been appealing for," said Singh, and added, "Don Basco High School has shut down for an indefinite period, which is a big loss to the students. We appeal to militant outfits to take back their demand," said Singh.

Jalil High School in Kshetrigao area of Manipur also met with the same fate. The school has been shut for an indefinite period. The reason is the same, ransom and threat to teacher's lives.

People have been protesting against militant highhandedness and demanding that government should take strict action against anti-social elements who have become a major nuisance for the common people.

H.Ashirjit Luwang, President of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), said, " We want to appeal to the militants to spare the students. Such unwanted acts, especially in the education sector is undesirable."

"Day by day the students of our state are moving out for further studies which is unfortunate. Because if all the students of Manipur go outside for further studies, than what will be our future," said Khamba, President of All Manipur Students Union.

Earlier this year Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, the Government school at Chandel, Mary Montessori School and many other educational institutions of the state have become victims of militancy. It is a tragedy that militants who claim themselves to be representing the people of the state have become major impediments in the development of individual as well as the society at large.

ANI