MIT closed, students want principal removed

Sobhapati Samom

IMPHAL, Sept 24 – Tension runs high in Manipur Institute of Technology (MIT) following eviction of hostellers and subsequent police action on students.

Unhappy with the activities of the Principal-in-charge Dr Th Kullachandra Singh, around 400 MIT students of the State’s lone engineering institute have revolted against him demanding his immediate removal.

“We want replacement of the principal-in-charge as he has failed to take up any student welfare programme”, said a 5th Semester student. “There is no proper library, not to speak of the required infrastructure in the institute”, he alleged. The MIT students had even staged a sit-in demonstration at their Takyelpat campus near Imphal followed by a protest rally demanding his removal.

On Sunday too, the students continued their sit-in at the institute campus. The Principal-in-charge along with a magistrate and a police team arrived at the scene and asked the students to leave the place, sources said.

Later, the magistrate gave them 20 minutes time to leave the place. But the students refused to vacate the area. After the expiry of the deadline, the police reportedly resorted to baton-charge and fired tear gas shells in which around 20 students sustained injuries. They were later taken to RIMS hospital. The MIT authority also asked 64 boys and 36 girl hostellers to vacate their hostels as the hostels were closed indefinitely due to the prevailing situation.

Meanwhile, a guardian’s body on Monday urged the Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam to take necessary steps to re-open the hostels in the interest of the student community.