Ukhrul, Sep 06: Under the renewed directive of the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), over 28 Government High Schools were ransacked in Ukhrul district today at around 4 pm and the effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi and Education Minister L Nandakumar were also simultaneously burnt at the heart of Ukhrul town near UHSS ground.

Talking to the media, the spokesman of ANSAM, Jordan Pheray, said that today's action was taken up to show the Government of Manipur that the Naga students are yet to give up the fight and to protest the State Government's false campaign that the private schools and students are being forced to demand affiliation to Nagaland Board of Secondary Education and to adopt their text books.

The student leader also accused the Secretary of the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur of concocting tales to suit his personal agenda.

The move taken up by the Government of Manipur to entice Naga students in Government schools by deliberately violating the admission rules framed by the BSEM is also a strategy to derail the genuine demand of the Naga students, he asserted.

Worthington Mahong, President TKS, said, Nagas are one and it has been the desire and aspiration of all Nagas to develop and grow together as a free people, and it is natural for the Nagas to resist any forced imposition that is aimed at destroying their history, culture, rights and future.

The student body (ANSAM) stated that efforts of the Government of Manipur to ride rough shod over Naga interest and eradicate their cultural identity through education policy had compelled them to totally dismantle the Government schools in the Dist as a warning message to the Government of Manipur and added that in the event of failure on the part of the State Government to set things right, further and more drastic action will be initiated in the coming future.

Our Staff Reporter adds from Imphal : In support of the ongoing ANSAM-sponsored Non-Cooperation movement, activists of Anal Naga Students' Union burnt the effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Education Minister L Nandakumar at Chakpikarong sub-divisional headquarters and Chandel District headquarters.

Informing this in a statement, general secretary of the student body Isreal Pashel observed that the principle of Right to Education stands that all the private schools under its jurisdiction should be affiliated to Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE).

The student activists of the Union also broke down the office chamber of the Headmaster of Maha Union High School and burnt down some important documents and properties, Pashel claimed.

Effigies of the Chief Minister and the Education Minister were also reportedly set on fire at Tangkhul Long ground in Ukhrul district HQs as well as at Mini Stadium ground of Senapati District HQs demanding affiliation of private schools in the hills with Nagaland Board.

The agitators also reportedly destroyed the infrastructures of 28 Govt schools in Ukhrul district.

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