IMPHAL, August 25: Altogether 13 students amongst the 14, who were picked up from their hunger strike venues at Keishampat and Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy and kept under observation at the Juvenile Observation Home, Takyelpat escaped this morning around 9.
The 13 escaped students include nine from Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) Students`™ Wing and four from Democratic Students`™ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM).
They are identified as Kh Jonshon Singh of Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School; Dayananda Lairikyengbam of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy; Oinam Suresh of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy; Malemnganba Thounaojam of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy; Toijam Robinson of CC Higher Secondary; Arambam Bopendro of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy; Yumnam Luwanganba of Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary; Leishangkhong Fajal of Lamlong Higher Secondary School and Thoudam Mukhesh of Lamlong Higher Secondary School.
Immediately after they ran out of the Home, the students joined their colleagues in launching fast unto death agitations at the places from where they were pulled up earlier.
Speaking to media persons at Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy following their escape, Kh Johson said that they jointly decided to escape from the Home in condemnation of the apparent government`™s failure to pass the proposed bill to safeguard the indigenous people in the Assembly on or before August 25.
The government had assured the people to pass an acceptable bill in the Assembly on or before August 25 that also after witnessing mass agitation from many sections.
This time also the government has utterly failed to keep its promises like in the past, he fumed.
He recounted that they were admitted to the RIMS Eye Ward soon after they were pulled up by police from the places where they launched fast unto death stirs.
But after few minutes, we were rushed to Juvenile Observation Home, Takyelpat not giving time to take rest in the hospital, he claimed.
Contending that they were treated like criminals in the observation home, Johnson pointed out that there is no nurse or doctor in the Home to give treatment to those who are staying in it.
He further narrated that the 13 students including him amongst the 14 managed to escape from the observation home through its front gate after much struggle as there are security personnel deployed in the Home.
Unfortunately, the remaining colleague failed to escape from the Home, he said.
He pledged that they will continue with the hunger strike till the introduction of ILPS or similar law in the State which is the collective wishes of the people.
Amongst the escapers, health condition of Yumnam Luwanganba is said to be critical. His mother reportedly collapsed on seeing his condition.
Meanwhile, yet another student has launched fast unto death agitation at Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai starting this early morning around 3.50 replacing her colleague namely Beishmayum Puja Devi 18, daughter of B Jadhumani Sharma of Singjamei Wangma Torban Kshetri Leikai, who was arrested by police on August 24 for doing the same.
The new student hunger striker is identified as Yumlembam Enaobi 17, daughter of Y Ranbir of Singjamei Wangma Torban Kshetri Leikai.
