NESO, MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK, AIMS, and AMKIL condemned the incident.
TFM Desk
Student bodies and Meira Paibi group have condemned the bomb blast at the headquarter of All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) inside Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) campus on Tuesday night by an unknown miscreant.
Strongly condemning the incident, AMSU has termed it as an “act of terrorist”. Speaking to media persons at AMSU headquarter, DMU Campus, on Wednesday, AMSU president Haobijam Chalamba said that the student body has been leading the student community of the state and working for future generations on several occasions. The “war by bomb” in a temple of the students is an attack on the student community itself, he asserted.
Chalamba also maintained that AMSU has its own identity, history and constitution. It is an independent body bound by its constitution. And whenever there are internal problems, it is resolved as per the constitution, he insisted.
“The student body won’t function under the dictat of any third party,” he asserted.
Chalamba further said that it was unfortunate that such an attack was unleashed upon a body of students who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the motherland. He also urged the “concerned” not to indulge in such acts in the future.
The AMSU president also urged the state government to nab the “anti-social” elements and punish them according to the law at the earliest. He also appealed to the people for support in the “truthful” functioning of the student body.
Executive members of the student body also participated in the media briefing.
Meanwhile, five student bodies — MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK, and AIMS, also condemned the incident and said that it was a big loss to the student community. They also appealed not to repeat such acts in the future.
In a joint release, the student bodies asserted that it was a huge loss for the land by terrorising the student community. Maintaining that the student community has been proactively taking part in crucial issues and uprising in the state, the release assured that it will continue to do so.
On the other hand, the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) condemned the “dastardly act” in the strongest terms possible and demanded that the authorities should do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
In a release on Wednesday, NESO which comprises of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) representing eight major students movement in the seven North-Eastern states, expressed its deep shock and utter disbelief on learning of the bomb blast by a hand grenade that took place on Tuesday at around 7:20 pm.
“As a premier student organisation of Manipur, AMSU has taken up very important and sensitive issues for the protection and uplift of the indigenous peoples of Manipur, this might be one of the causes that prompt the people whoever they may be to carry out this heinous act with the intention to intimidate the AMSU, but this will not in any way deter the AMSU but instead this will only strengthen their determination to keep on fighting for the rights and protection of the indigenous peoples of the state,” it added.
NESO also extended its full support and solidarity to AMSU to move forward in whatever it is trying to achieve for the larger interest of the indigenous peoples of the state.
Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) also condemned the incident and urged not to repeat such incidents in the future.
In a release, AMKIL said that terrorising the people amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic was untimely and uncalled for. Maintaining that AMSU is one of the oldest student movements of the state, AMKIL assured that the mothers are behind the student body.
Amidst the curfew clamped in seven districts of the state in view of the raging COVID-19 pandemic second wave, an unidentified individual came in a scooter at around 7:20 pm on Tuesday and hurled a hand grenade inside the campus of AMSU headquarters. No one was injured according to reports. The incident was caught on CCTV. So far there are no reports of any suspects being caught by the police.