IMPHAL, Aug 17: A large number of hostellers of Manipur University stormed into the administrative block of the university this afternoon demanding the authority to reduce the current hostel mess fee.
The hostelers numbering about 300 came to the administrative block to have talks with the Vice-Chancellor regarding the hostel mess fee but they were blocked by the security personnel at the gate of VC’s office.
The action of the students became more serious and additional security personnel had to be called in for controlling the situation. The OC of Singjamei PS along with a team of Imphal West CDO rushed to the spot and the situation was somehow brought under control.
The security personnel then told the hostellers to send some four to five representatives from among them to have talks with the VC but they refused the offer. They said that the VC should come out and have talks with the hostelers openly.
Later in the evening, some 12 representatives of the hostelers met the VC and placed their demands before him.
During the meeting, the VC suggested that the hostel mess fee would be fixed after the hostelers themselves audit the monthly expenditures of the hostel mess.
It may be mentioned that the Joint Hostel Committee of Manipur University has decided to launch stern agitations from August 18 if the university authority fails to reduce the mess fee.
The hostelers were protesting against sudden hike in hostel mess fee by the MU authority from Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000 per month.
