Imphal, January 27 2009: POLICE TODAY picked up five principals of government run higher secondary schools in Imphal in connection on the alleged charge of non-participation in Republic Day celebration boycotted by the separatists in Manipur.

The picked up five principals are among the six principals and one vice principal who have been reportedly placed under suspension by the government authority on Monday for not participating in the Republic Day celebration in Imphal on Monday.

Police is yet to pick up the principal of the Model Higher Secondary School W Biren and it's vice principal S Tomba who has been placed under suspension.

The five principals picked by the police are Y Nonganlei of TG Higher Secondary School, S Khomdonbi of Johnston Higher Secondary School, Ch Padma Devi of CC Higher Secondary School, Y Ibetombi of Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School and L Rashi of Ram Lal Paul Hgiher Secondary School.

Two days ahead of the Republic Day celebration in Imphal on January 24, the suspended principals had submitted representation requesting relaxation on the participation of their schools in the march past competition which they prepared for the same complying an order of the director of the education (school) on January 14 last asking the schools to participate with march past contingent of students.

They submitted the request to the director through the joint director, sources said.

Later, it is learnt that submission of the principals was related with the threats posed on them by the members of the banned separatist out People Revolutionary Front, RPF when students are preparing for participation.

The director of the state directorate of education(s) M Harekrishna Singh on January 14 last issued orders to six higher secondary schools asking them to participate in the Republic Day celebration in the state capital with a march past contingent under order no.8/10-9/20087-DE(s) .

Following the order of the director, a contingent each of the six schools, Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School, Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School, CC Higher Secondary School, Model Higher Secondary School, Johnstone Higher Secondary School and Tamphasana Higher Secondary School make up by 50 students attended rehearsal which was conducted at the parade ground of the 1st Manipur Rifles.

But after some days, members of the RPF infiltrated and by personally contacting the principals and students of the schools and threatened of dare consequences if they happened to participate in the celebration of the day defying their banned on people's participation by the outfit.

Members of the same outfit once again threatened the students and principals of the six schools when they attended the full-dress rehearsal on January 23 which led to the submission of the intimation to the director informing their decisions not to participate in the celebration on January 24 .

However, the principal of the Model Higher Secondary did not follow suit.

In a follow up action, the director of the school education issued orders placing the principals under suspension from their service.

Police today picked the principals after registering cases against them.

Admitting that cases have been registered against the principals, police source said the concern Imphal police station is preparing charged sheets against them in connection with the non-participation of the Republic Day and they will be produced before the chief judicial magistrate with prayers to take custody.

On the other hand, a spokesperson of the All Manipur Higher Secondary Welfare Association when contacted that that even though the threats of the militants persist, the students of the said five schools participated in the march past on Republic Day and some of them won positions in the march past competition announced in the evening yesterday.

He also hinted of rising up in arms against the government move toward the principals.

"We are closely watching the development for necessary steps," Joykumar the spokesperson told this correspondent over phone.

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