Efforts underway to safely evacuate students, citizens stuck in violence-hit Manipur: Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister

“The Government of Arunachal Pradesh is in constant touch with its counterpart in Manipur and is closely monitoring the situation. Communications have also been made with the stranded students and people of Arunachal Pradesh,” the Home Minister informed during a press briefing at his official residence here this evening.

Deadly clashes erupted on Wednesday after the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) organised a protest rally against the Court order of the Manipur High Court which gave direction to the Manipur government to take a decision on the demand of the Meitei community to include them in the ST list.

A large number of houses were burnt in Bishenpur, Moreh, Imphal East, Imphal West, and Churachandpur districts. There was massive protest throughout the state as reports of alleged rape of women came from the Churachandpur district.

According to the data available from the government, altogether 263 students are stranded in

Manipur while 34 students have managed to safely return to Arunachal Pradesh, he informed.

“As of now, all stranded students are within their respective campus, and are safe,” the Home Minister said, while informing that request for additional security has also been made for their protection.

“I urge all affected students and their parents to remain calm and not panic during these challenging times. Students who are on their campus should continue to remain inside the campus,” Felix said.

As per the latest ground report, the situation is limping back to normalcy in Manipur. However, on the direction of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, a Control Room has been established at the State Civil Secretariat here under the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to handle the situation, he informed.

Parents and students seeking support and assistance can also call the helpline numbers of Manipur - 8730931414/ 8794475406/ 7005257760 and 8471889572 (AIGP Itanagar), 7086026788 (DRC, Guwahati), and 7630090058 (Additional SP, Itanagar), the Minister said.

Commenting on the government’s evacuation effort, Felix informed that a chopper was requisitioned for the task but could not get clearance from the Air Traffic Control in Manipur this afternoon due to congestion.

Efforts are also underway to charter flights and as soon as the ATC gives clearance, it will initiate the evacuation process, he said.

(With UNI inputs)