Life started limping back to normalcy under the watchful eyes of army drones and helicopters deployed for aerial reconnaissance as curfew was relaxed on Sunday in parts of Manipur. Meanwhile, states have been announcing measures to rescue stranded students from the violence-hit region
Although curfew in Manipur has been relaxed after violent clashes broke out after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the dominant Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, students stranded in the state have been making appeals to their respective state authorities to rescue them.
The violence erupted in Torbung area in Churachandpur district during the 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday to protest against the Meiteis' demand for ST status.
Meanwhile, states have been announcing measures to rescue stranded students from the violence-hit region.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said a special flight will be arranged for students from the state currently stuck in the riot-hit Manipur.
"There are 22 students (in Manipur) from Maharashtra. I have spoken to two of them - Vikash Sharma and Tushar Awhad - and assured them of arranging a special flight to return home. I told them not to be afraid of anything, the state is making all the necessary arrangements to bring them back safely,” he said. The students were studying in some of the technology institutes based in Manipur, the release said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot too has voiced concern over the safety of students from the state stranded in violence-hit Manipur. "The chief secretary and the director general of police of Rajasthan are in touch with senior officials there and soon efforts will be made to bring them home safely," the chief minister added.
The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday opened a helpline and a control room at AP Bhavan in Delhi for coordinating the evacuation of state students stuck in the region. The helpline numbers are 011-23384016 and 011-23387089. "We are in constant touch with Manipur government and local administration to ensure all help," said the State government in a statement and shared six more helpline numbers from the northeastern state.
The Telangana Government has decided to immediately airlift its students and citizens from Imphal to Hyderabad by a special flight on Sunday. A press release from Telangana Government said, it is taking all measures to ensure the safety of its students and people residing in the northeastern state.As per information available, about 250 students belonging to Telangana are studying in various educational institutions in Imphal and surrounding areas, it further said.
The release said a special cell has been opened to monitor the situation in Manipur to protect the interests of Telangana people in that State. "Government of Telangana has decided to immediately airlift the Telangana students from Imphal to Hyderabad. For this purpose a special flight has been arranged from Imphal to Hyderabad on 07-05-2023 forenoon," it said.
Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Bamang Felix on Friday said the government is making all efforts to ensure safe return of stranded students of the state
"A plan for evacuation of stranded students by a helicopter and aircraft is kept ready and will be carried out when the situation in Manipur will become conducive for bringing them to Imphal airport safely," Felix told reporters.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the home department to help students from the state currently stranded in violence-hit Manipur. The state relief commissioner’s office has also been directed to coordinate with the Manipur government.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday claimed that all the students of the state stranded in violence-hit Manipur are safe. More than 150 students from Tripura are stranded in Manipur. He further said that contact has also been established with leaders of Tripura Students' Union in Manipur to know the ground situation and a 24X7 helpline has been set up to help the students of Tripura or anybody from the state stranded in Manipur.
(With inputs from PTI)