Telugu students attacked at Manipur NIT

• Eight students sustain injuries
• Police picket set-up on the campus
• 30 students lock themselves up in hostel
• AP, TS Chief Secretaries make enquiries

Hyderabad: A fortnight-long dispute between the Telugu and the local students at Manipur National Institute of Technology (NIT) reached a flashpoint on Saturday when the latter attacked them during the dinner time. According to reports, eight Telugu students were injured in the attack. Frightened by the incident, around 30 students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States locked themselves up in their hostel room.

Police rushed to the campus and set up a picket to prevent any further clashes.

The parents of the students, who received frantic calls, informed government officials and requested them to provide security to their wards.

On Sunday morning, the Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States spoke to higher officials in Manipur. Additional DGP of Andhra Pradesh RP Thakur spoke to his counterpart and enquired about the welfare of the students. He urged the Manipur State officials to send local SP to the campus to take stock of the situation. Thakur assured the worried parents that the situation was now under control.

Principal Secretary for Home and Education, Manipur, Dr J Suresh Babu, told reporters there that the Telugu students were shifted to different hostels. He also said that hereafter, the locals and Telugu students would not be kept in the same hostel. He said an armed CRPF post was established in the campus to prevent any untoward incidents.

According to parents, the Manipuri students demanded that the Telugu students obey their orders if they wanted to continue their studies. On Saturday in the dining hall, both sides had a minor altercation which led to the attack. It is learnt that police registered a case against some students, but so far no arrests have been made.