Education office torched in Manipur

Unidentified persons suspected to be volunteers of agitating student bodies have torched Zonal Education Office (ZEO) Jiribam last night at around 11 p.m. Ceiling, some official documents and books were damaged by the fire which was doused by fire fighters of the fire service station at Jiribam.

No one has since claimed that the responsibility for the incident. However, police suspect  volunteers of agitating student bodies based in the sub-division of the Imphal East district bordering with Assam behind the arson.

Four Jiribam branches of student bodies, All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Kangleipak Students (KSA) have been undergoing a series of agitations since June 25 last after government failed to implement their agreed demands.

On October 25, 2013, representatives of the Manipur government and the student bodies signed  an agreement in which government has agreed to fill up the vacant post of teachers in  government schools in the sub-division on or before June 20 last.

When government failed to translate the agreed demand into work even after the set deadline has expired, the student bodies had launched series of agitations like closing of government offices and educational institutions in the sub-division.

While announcing further course of agitation on Thursday, the student bodies announced total blockade along Jiribam-Imphal stretch of the national highway (NH-37) with effect from midnight of July 5.

The blockade would also cover the national projects particularly construction of railways  lines. The student leaders have appealed to all vehicle counters and transporters to support the  blockade, failing which they would bear all responsibilities for any untoward incidents.

Regarding the setting afire of the JEO, police registered a case today against unknown persons  even though police suspect volunteers of the agitating student bodies.