JIRIBAM, January 30 (JNN): Several student activists including KSO Jiribam and Tamenglong general secretary have been arrested during a highway bandh imposed by student bodies of Jiribam in connection with the demand to upgrade Jiri College into a full-fledged college.
On the other hand, the student bodies have warned to intensify their agitation if the student activists arrested are not released by tomorrow.
Speaking to media persons somewhere in Jiribam AMSU District Committee Jiribam president Khurembam Sanjeev expressed unhappiness against passenger service counters plying along the Imphal Jiribam highway and the government for disregarding the highway bandh imposed by several student bodies including KSO, Zeliangrong Students Union and Jiri College Students’ Union in demand of upgradation of Jiri College into a full-fledged government college.
Sanjeev said the agitation was not launched straightaway and memorandums were submitted repeatedly to the State government to look into the demand.
However, the government continued to disregard and neglect the demand forcing the student bodies to take up the agitation.
He continued yesterday around 10pm during the agitation, a team of the 7th IRB post at Kaimai entered into a house at Kaimai and arrested several persons including KSO Jiribam and Tamenglong general secretary J Thangboi Kuki and AMSU Jiribam district committee executive member N Priyojit and other members of the family.
He further charged that the security personnel assaulted the student activists.
Condemning the alleged assault by the security personnel, he further said the demand was made to the State government and it is not related in any manner with the IRB or any other security force.
He further demanded the government to look into the issue and warned that if the government fail to do so by tomorrow, the highway blockade, which was supposed to end tomorrow midnight, will be extended.
This will be followed by more intense form of agitations, he continued.
On the other hand it is also learnt that around 30 vehicles including those of the Railline construction companies and goods laden trucks were pelted stones by bandh supporters during the highway bandh.
The vehicles were attacked at several places along the highway including at Keifundau, Oinamlong, Nungkao, Kaimai and Jiribam, according to sources.