
In violence-hit Manipur Hundreds of NE students stuck; seeks help
Imphal: After days of violence and riots disrupted Internet connectivity in Manipur, attention has now turned to students from neighboring states who are stranded in the violence-hit state.
On Friday morning, Media reached out to a few students studying in Manipur to find out about the situation in the Manipur capital.
Gangtok resident Jordan Edwin, who studies at the Central Agricultural University in Imphal, said evacuations to neighboring states had already begun.
A village near our college was burnt to ashes. We also heard explosions and gunshots last night. Things are not very good at the moment. Miscreants are burning houses,” Edwin told.
“We, the students, are doing what we can to stay safe. We are also in touch with the Sikkim Chief Minister’s PRO. We have been told that some steps have been taken by the government to evacuate. There are, but we haven’t received confirmation yet.
“A bomb exploded not far from the university campus and several vehicles were torched,” a Manipur University student told East Mojo on condition of anonymity.
Again, a Nagaland student leader, who is currently in one of the college campuses near the epicenter of the violence in Imphal, said that around 148 Nagaland students are trapped inside the campus and the Nagaland government has ordered the evacuation of the students.
The student said that many students from Nagaland have contacted the state government through the helpline number on Thursday. However, the students are awaiting a green signal from the Nagaland government to evacuate.
“We are now stuck here in the campus. Yesterday when the violence was at its peak, mobs attacked our campus and other educational institutions as well. We are scared because we are insecure about our safety here. Our non-tribals are here. Friends are assuring us of our safety but we are scared because mob attacks can be unpredictable and we don’t know what will happen,” shared the student.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Home Department has informed that helpline numbers have been activated at the state police headquarters and the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority to make evacuation arrangements in case of need.
Appealing to more than 200 students of the state studying in Manipur, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said evacuation plans were being made.
“We are closely monitoring the situation. We are in touch with students from various institutions. We are also making arrangements as a state government to try to evacuate our students as soon as possible so that they can return safely. Sangma said in a video briefing on Friday evening.
The Chief Minister said that the government is making arrangements for various transport, especially air transport, to bring the students back to the state safely and quickly.
Also, the Meghalaya government has recently launched a toll-free helpline number 1800-345-3644 in Manipur for the distressed residents of Meghalaya.
Also, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday directed the Cachar district administration to take care of violence-affected families from Manipur who have taken refuge in the state.
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