The four UG cadres along with their arms and at the backdrop the trucks carrying Urea which were seized by the Assam Rifles

Tribal students begin to leave MU
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 7: In a significant development after the 36 hours general strike called by ATSUM and MUTSU pressing for their demand to increase seat reservation for tribals in Manipur University, around 100 tribal students left the MU campus today and have put up at the Tribal Research Institute located inside DM College campus.
The tribal students left MU campus as they allegedly felt insecure there. The students shifting to DM College campus were not related with the current agitation, clarified ATSUM spokesperson Joseph R Hmar.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Joseph demanded that the 10 student activists arrested in connection with yesterday’s incident should be released without any condition and that the Government should give an assurance to fulfil their demand about reservation in MU by 6 pm today.
Otherwise, more intense movements will be launched, he added. The ATSUM spokesperson further demanded that the interview for recruitment of guest lecturers in Manipur University held on October 6 and 7 should be declared null and void.
As the tribal students’ agitation turned violent which resulted in vandalising MU structures and vehicles, 10 student activists were pulled up by police.
The arrested students include eight functionaries of MUTSU and two of ATSUM. It is reported that Court has permitted the arrested students to be freed on bail.
Meanwhile the Zeliang-rong Union (AMN) has decried the ugly skirmishes between MUTSU agitators and the local people that took place in the vicinity of Manipur University, Canchipur yesterday.
Maintaining that ATSUM and MUTSU called the general strike demanding reservation of seats for tribals in both teaching and non-teaching staff, the ZU (AMN) condemned the alleged act of local people resorting to confrontation with the peaceful agitators.
A press release by ZU (AMN) further appealed to the authority concerned to redress the grievances of the tribal students at the earliest so as to maintain peaceful co-existence among different communities.
The Siamsinpawlpi (Paite Students’ Organisation) has also strongly condemned the arrest and detention of MUTSU leaders who are demanding their rights and demanded their immediate release without any conditions.
In a statement, the student body also condemned the attack on the students by some people at the gate of MU and demanded that they be arrested and punished according to law.
Backing the stand of MUTSU and ATSUM, the student body said that it will give full support to the proposed National Highway blockade for the cause of tribal students unity and for the implementation of the demands raised by MUTSU and ATSUM.

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