Manipur Governor leaves for Assam after student unrest; exams postponed
A day after students clashed with security forces during their march to Raj Bhavan, Manipur Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya left Imphal for Guwahati on Wednesday, officials said.
The University of Manipur has also postponed all postgraduate and undergraduate examinations till further orders.
Acharya, who is the governor of Assam and also holds the charge of Manipur, left the state for Guwahati around 10 am, officials told PTI, without providing further details.
More than 55 students and security personnel were slightly injured during the clash near the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.
The agitators demanded the resignation of the DGP and the security advisor of the state government for their alleged failure to maintain law and order situation in Manipur, where drones and missiles were recently used in ethnic violence.
Hours after the clash at Raj Bhavan, the Governor met 11 student representatives on Tuesday evening.
No new protests or violence were reported in the Imphal Valley, where a curfew has been imposed and internet connections suspended, police said on Wednesday.
Security measures in the region have been tightened with the deployment of additional troops and the barricading of sensitive areas in the capital.
On Tuesday, security forces fired teargas shells to disperse protesting students who ignored the prohibitory orders and tried to overpower the police to reach the Raj Bhavan. They also pelted stones on BT Road and in Kakwa area of Imphal.
The students protested since Monday morning and also camped overnight at the Khwairamband market.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said he met students of Imphal College and Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School and assured them that his government was committed to addressing the issues plaguing the state.
They (students) expressed their concerns about the ongoing unrest in our state, and I greatly appreciate their input. We had a constructive conversation about the challenges they face and the impact on their education. I want to assure all students that we are committed to addressing these issues.
The voices of our youth matter and together we will strive for a better future for Manipur, he said in a post on X.
In another social media post, he said justice will come for the victims of drone strikes, even if it takes some time.
In another development, Manipur University reported that all PG and UG examinations have been postponed till further orders.
The university announced in a statement that the dates for the postponed exams will be announced shortly.
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First publication: Sep 12, 2024 | 12:32 PM IST