Imphal, June 20: When M.K. Ajit Singh and his friends participated in a mass prayer in their school premises today, they were not doing it for high marks. All that the students of Sacred Heart School want is a “free zone” on the campus.
The school in Yairipok in Thoubal district is one of the many private educational institutions in Manipur where maintaining a “good academic” ambience is becoming increasingly difficult. The reason cited is disturbances — an euphemism for demands by militant outfits.
Various groups reportedly continue to “disturb” the educational institutions despite appeals by the teaching community and students organisations, including the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur, to make education a “free zone”.
On the first day of the seven-day-long mass prayers, all students of Sacred Heart School — from classes I to X — prayed together.
From tomorrow till June 26, they will sit for prayers by turn. The students will “sacrifice” two classes daily for the purpose.
“We are the future of the nation. We want a peaceful academic atmosphere on the school campus so that we can perform better in examinations and build our careers. So we are praying for a peaceful atmosphere in the school,” Ajit Singh said.
Frequent bandhs and blockades are their other causes of worry. “You never know when a bandh or blockade will disturb our classes. The uncertainty on the campus hampers our study. People from all sections of society should ensure that students are allowed to study without any disturbances,” M. Ranjit Singh, a Class IX student, said.
The Manipur University Teachers’ Association in an advertisement published in a local daily today, has appealed to all organisations not to make monetary demands to the teachers of the university. Sources said the appeal was made after an armed group asked some teachers to shell out money.
MLA home: Unidentified persons yesterday fired at the private residence of Nationalist Congress Party MLA Salam Joy Singh at Samurou in Imphal West district at 11.30pm. No one was injured. The MLA was staying at a government quarter in the city. Meira paibis (women activists) of the locality today held a sit-in to protest the attack.
