Date:10/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/10/stories/2008101053691600.htm

National

Arrested tribal student leaders released

A Correspondent

IMPHAL: Normality is returning to Manipur University (M.U.) campus as 10 arrested tribal student leaders were released unconditionally on Wednesday night.

However, the tribal students who had fled the M.U. complex are yet to return.

Ministers N. Biren, T.N. Haokip and others held prolonged meetings with leaders of Manipur University Tribal Students’ Union and the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur before arriving at the agreement.

However, the question of revising the reservation would be discussed in the next meeting.

The two tribal students’ organisations have been demanding 34 per cent reservation for ST in all appointments in MU. They had obstructed job interviews and locked offices. On Tuesday, they smashed windscreens of cars and window panes of offices, apart from calling a general strike in the State. As many as 117 tribal students were then rounded up.