IMPHAL, August 27: Five student hunger strikers including four volunteers of the JCILPS Student Wing and one from DESAM Thoubal Unit escaped this morning around 11 from the Children Home Shamaram Khongjom where they were kept under observation after being picked up by the concerned authorities for launching fast onto death agitations demanding ILPS in the State.
Soon after reaching Imphal the four JCILPS SW volunteers joined other hunger strike volunteers in front of the Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School, while the DESAM volunteer identified as class XII Sc student of Francier Higher Secondary School Moirangthem Arundash Singh son of M Sarat Singh joined the hunger strike in front of the DESAM office.
The four volunteers of the JCILPS Student Wing are identified as class X student of Lamlong Higher Secondary, Thongam Malemnganba Meitei son of Th Amuba; class IX student of Eastern Ideal School, Thingujam Ricky Singh, son of Th Dhiren Singh; class XII Sc student of Johnstone Higher Secondary School, Irom Jotinkumar Singh, son of I Dinachandra and class XII Arts student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, Shamurailatpam Sushil son of Sh Khogendro Sharma.
Speaking to media persons one of the student volunteers said they were kept at the Khongjom Home and escaped by jumping down from the first floor.
He said after walking on foot for about six kilometres, they were helped by a man to reach Imphal.
Meanwhile, around 300 women of Lairikyengbam Leikai staged a sit in protest demanding implementation of the ILPS and punishment of the police involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood.
Meanwhile, residents of Nongmeibung area today caught a man around 8pm today for suspiciously moving around the Ananda Singh Academy School where student volunteers were on hunger strike.
The man identified as Kh Tompok Singh, 44, said to be the secretary of the All Backward Classes and Economic Development Organisation and NGO running the Khongjom Home from where the student volunteers escaped this morning.
Speaking to media persons, Tompok said around noon today, he found five students, who were put in his Children Home by the authorities, missing.
And when he informed the families of the student volunteers he was told that the students were at the Ananda Higher Secondary Academy continuing their hunger strike.
He then informed the Social Welfare department and reported the missing students to the Thoubal Police, he claimed.
After that he had come to check on the students when he was grabbed by the public.
Meanwhile, Fasting Students Protection Committee treasurer L Hemochandra said he will be handed over to the police.