The major and integral development to be made in Manipur is that schools are going to re-open today. The Director of the Manipur School Education Department, L Nanda Kumar Singh announced the news. He said Manipur schools are set to reopen on Friday, October 6, 2023. This update came after people demonstrated in the capital city of the state on Thursday, October 5, 2023, to demand the restoration of peace amid the violence in Manipur state. People are seeking peace amid the ongoing ethnic unrest in the state. Meanwhile, the Director of the Manipur School Education Department in association with the Home Department announced the reopening of schools in the state.
According to the order issued by L. Nanda Kumar Singh, all the government, backed by the government, and private schools in Manipur state will start operating again from Friday, October 6, 2023. It was decided after the state government temporarily suspended the internet services and closed all the schools in the Manipur state on September 27, 2023, due to ongoing ethnic dispute in the state. After the closure of schools and colleges for nine days, the department decided to reopen them in the state. The mobile internet services were suspended on September 27, and it would be restored until October 6.
The Internet services were suspended and schools were temporarily closed after some students demonstrated in Manipur state’s capital Imphal on September 26 and 27 after the death of two teen students Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemjit. Reportedly, the students who died on July 6, 2023, were 17 and 20 years old. The demonstration triggered due to the deaths of Phijam and Hijam, included at least 100 students. In the protest, hundreds of students including girls were clashing with security forces. As a result of the standoff between police and students, many sustained injuries while marching toward the Chief Minister’s office.
On social media, several footages of the clash between security forces and Manipur students, are circling enormously leaving the whole nation stirred. A video also showed security personnel in large numbers deployed to disperse the students protesting. Prior to the protest erupting in the state, the Union Home Ministry decided to transfer senior police officer Rakesh Balwal to Manipur from Srinagar. The decision to send Rakesh Balwal back to Manipur came in a bid to heighten the existence of police officers in the state to maintain law and order, after a recommendation by the Home Ministry.