Imphal: Nearly a hundred students of NIT Manipur fled their hostels on Wednesday morning, alleging inadequate security on the campus at Lamphelpat, on the outskirts of this city.

The students, mostly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who were trying to leave Manipur via National Highway 39 in three Dimapur (Nagaland)-bound buses, were stopped by police at Sekmai, about 14km from the campus, and brought back with promises of adequate security.

The students' move followed a scuffle on Sunday between some students from Bihar and other states, who were playing football at the NIT football ground, and some local youths, who were also playing football at the same ground located at the gate of the campus.

Chief minister N. Biren Singh visited the campus in the evening and assured the students that his government would ensure their protection and a peaceful academic atmosphere.

He later told reporters, "When Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar called me on Tuesday, I assured him that nothing will happen to the students of his state and those coming from other states. The incident is very unfortunate. We will take all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of outside students." He appealed to the local people not to misbehave with students from outside.

On Monday, some students from outside the state went on a rampage, damaging a bus and glass windows of the institute, a car and several two-wheelers of staff members. They allegedly stormed the office of registrar R.K. Lalit, demanding security. Police had to cane the protesters to bring the situation under control.

Institute director S. Birendra Singh told The Telegraph, "After the scuffle at the football ground on Sunday, we talked to the students and the matter was settled peacefully. On Monday, the students locked the main entrance of the campus. Faculty members and other staff of the institute had to stand outside for hours till the police broke the lock."

He said the students threatened to assault the registrar for calling the police to break the lock.

"The students were violent. A faculty member and a policeman were injured when they pelted stones. We have written to the state government to provide adequate security, including a company of the CRPF, on and around the campus," the director said.

Though the students fled, the institute held the practical examination of civil courses as scheduled. The authorities said students from states like Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh took the exam.