Students from Nagaland stranded in Manipur

Morung Express News
Kohima | May 6

As tension gripped Manipur owing to large scale violence in the state, hundreds of students from Nagaland are still stranded amidst fear of their safety. The Naga Medicos Union Imphal informed so far they have ascertained the details of 209 students who are stranded.

Despite the Nagaland Government activating a helpline for assistance, repeated calls made by students from Manipur were either engaged or unanswered, and the answered calls were reportedly not helpful. It was also learnt that despite informing students to wait for a convoy by 8:00 am this morning, no such convoy for evacuating the students reached Manipur.

Speaking to The Morung Express, a medical student said “as information was passed to all the students, everyone was ready by 8:00 am and now we have unpacked again.” “We try calling them every hour but their response was always ‘the bus is reaching’ and by afternoon we called them again and told them to give proper information since we have been waiting since morning,” he said. He also told how one person has told him to get updates through whatsapp when he was trying to explain their positions; despite the internet being shut down.

Since the last three days, he said food and water have run out as the canteen has been shut down and they are not able to go out to buy food. He said the students are sharing whatever snacks and noodles they have and drinking water from the tap. After waiting for hours, he said they received information that road transportation was not viable and the Manipur Government can transport the students till Kangpokpi district. The students got the confirmation only when they called to enquire and found out that the Nagaland Government was not comfortable with that situation, and had nullified the plan. 

The student said they have been updating the State Government on the absence of security today, and their request to the warden for safety and security was responded with no guarantees. He informed they were instead advised to stay in their rooms. “Now we are hearing about the airlift arrangement being made by the State Government, but we don’t know when it’s going to be as we don’t have any update,” he said. “We are staying in fear wherein a mob came in our campus last evening. Thankfully, we were not disturbed and nothing happened but we are staying in fear of our lives as we don’t know what will happen anytime,” he stated.

Another medical student informed that as students, the best they could do was to reach out and collect the number of Naga students in Manipur in various institutions, totaling to 209. “Everyone here is scattered and freaked out. There have been some casualties in other medical institutions. We cannot even comfort them as we don’t have any update from our State Government,” he said.

Despite claims that the situation has been brought under control, the students informed that mobs are still marching around the city and even entering educational institutions. “We are waiting but till now they (state government) hasn’t given us any conclusive decision. The other states have airlifted their students” he informed.

Although Nagaland is nearest to Manipur, we are yet to be evacuated, he said adding “in times of emergencies like these, if our state government can be a little responsive and proactive, it will be good as for now our well being is threatened. Now, our concern is not our education but for survival.” Fearing for their safety at this point of time, he said “our campus is very vulnerable.” 

When queried about the unattended helpline numbers, Johny Raungmei, OSD, NSDMA said their helpline numbers are working and in operation 24/7 and that it is compiling the list of all calls.

The Nagaland Home Department in a statement informed that many people stranded in Manipur are unable to move out due to lack of public transportation and therefore it has been decided to facilitate their movement from Imphal to Nagaland in a day or two.

 “The control room set up in the State is also in touch with the stranded from the State at various locations in Imphal. Many have expressed their desire to come back to Nagaland and their details have been collected,” it informed.

It said transport arrangements have been tied up though the movement is yet to start as security and a few logistic details are yet to be finalized in coordination with various agencies in Manipur. The State Government is doing all it can to facilitate the movement at the earliest, it said while appealing all to have patience and maintain calm. 

AYO informs
The Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) meanwhile informed people who fail to reach the State helpline desk, or parents of students and those stranded in Manipur requiring assistance to contact the AYO in the following numbers:  AYO President Kesosul Christopher Ltu: +91 9856260864; General Secretary Neldilhoutuo Sechü: +91 8974522575; and Press Secretary Thepfusavi Suohu: +91 9774418143.