Imphal: Hundreds of students of various colleges in Manipur hit the streets on Thursday to protest against sudden postponement of elections to college students’ unions.
In their bid to control the situation, police resorted to firing tear gas shells and mock bombs.
At least three policemen and two students including a girl were injured as they confronted the police in one of the protests at Manipur College, Imphal.
The police also detained three student leaders after a brief confrontation in front of the office of the Directorate of Education (University) in Imphal’s Keishampat.
Students’ protest against the postponement of the election scheduled to October 6 was reported in almost all the government-run colleges.
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An order of the director of Education (U) issued late on Wednesday postponed the elections to the students’ unions of the college indefinitely.
The order came after filing of nomination papers of the intended candidates over and nomination papers are to be taken up for scrutiny today (September 29).
Irate over the sudden postponement of the elections, that too, without fixing another date, students of colleges held the protest.
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Earlier in the day, the students held the protest premises of their respective colleges. While shouting various slogans against the postponement of the elections, they locked down the office chambers of principals and heads of departments.
Later, they took to the streets outside their respective college premises and disturbed traffic by blocking the road. Students of some colleges set fire to furniture like desks and benches after piling up in the middle of the roads.
They also confronted the police who intervened to prevent them from indulging in the violent activities.
In the police efforts to reopen the blocking road, two students of Manipur College sustained injuries. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.
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When the situation in the colleges were about to subside, a large number of students of various colleges including activists of some students’ bodies held the protest outside the office premises of the directorate of education (u) in Imphal’s Nityaipat Chuthek, opposite to Raj Bhavan.
While demanding resignations of the Education minister and the director of Education (U) on moral ground, the students pelted eggs, tomatoes and stones at the office.
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