Three govt schools still occupied by SF
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 06 2011: Three Government school buildings are still being occupied by security forces even after six other schools had been vacated in recent times following a directive of the Supreme Court on September 1, 2010 .

The three schools still being occupied by the security forces are Karang Primary School in Bishnupur district, Singhat Government High School in Churachandpur district and Lamdangmei Junior High School in Tamenglong district.

Regarding the Singhat Government Junior High School, it is learnt from a source that the old school building was burned down in communal clashes and was re-constructed by AR who occupied the premises with a lease from the village chief.

However, the source also disclosed that the government had completed construction of a new school building under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) .

The other six schools vacated by the security forces are Saiton High School in Bishnupur district, earlier occupied by 16th Maratha Light Infantry, Sajik Tampak Junior High School in Chandel district occupied by 8 AR, Soungdoh Government Junior High School and Hengkot Aided LP School in Churachandpur district, Awangkhul LP School and Charoi Chagotlong Junior High School in Tamenglong district all occupied by AR troops.

Security forces have been instructed by the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) to vacate school buildings still occupied them on December 31, 2010 .

One of the Supreme Court of India's directives issued on September 1, 2010 had asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that schools, hostels and children's homes presently occupied by security forces should be vacated within a month's time and it should be ensured that the school buildings and hostels will not be allowed to be occupied by the armed or security forces in future for whatsoever purpose.

Accordingly, the state home department had asked the state police department to submit a detailed report on the status of occupation of school buildings by security forces in the state following which SPs of each district conducted spot verifications.

Police department submitted its report on December 20, 2010.The police in its report informed that they had requested IGAR (South) to take up necessary action to vacate schools still occupied by December 31, 2010, the official source said Tuesday.

It is pertinent to mention here that following the directive of the Supreme Court, Manipur Social Welfare Department banned sending of, children below 12 years or those students of primary school level, outside Manipur for pursuing education until further orders of the court.

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