After two weeks of closure, educational institutions in Manipur will resume normal classes from Friday

Imphal, November 28 (IANS): After a two-week closure, normal classes will resume in all educational institutions, including schools and universities in the six districts, from Friday, an official said here on Thursday.

Director of Education (Schools), L. Nandakumar Singh and Joint Secretary (Department of Higher and Technical Education), Daryal Juli Anal, in separate orders, asked all district and district level officers to take appropriate steps to resume classes in all government, private and state institutions. -Aided educational institutions, including colleges and universities, from Friday.

In his order, Singh said the decision to resume classes in schools and other educational institutions was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Manipur government on November 26 closed all educational institutions indefinitely in six curfew districts, including the troubled Jiribam district.

A Ministry of Education official said that considering the safety of students, teachers and non-teaching staff, all educational institutions in six districts – Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam – were closed.

District Magistrates of six districts have imposed curfew since violence escalated in different parts of Manipur on November 16 following the discovery of bodies of three missing children and three women in Jiribam areas. The Departments of Education (Schools) and Higher and Technical Education also closed public and private educational institutions in the six districts where a curfew was imposed as of November 16, by separate instructions.

On November 24, the Director of National Education (Schools) and the Departments of Higher and Technical Education announced separately that regular classes would start from November 25, but they canceled the orders a few hours later.

The Manipur government on Wednesday extended the suspension of mobile internet and data services in nine districts, including the troubled Jiribam district, for another two days as a precautionary measure.

The suspension of mobile internet and data services in nine districts will be valid until 17.15 on November 29.

The nine districts, comprising both valleys and hills, where mobile internet and data services have been suspended are Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Jiribam and Pherzawl.

Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi gave the order after six bodies of missing three children and three women were found in Jiribam district on November 15 and 16, and widespread violence and attacks by gangs began on November 16 in the valley districts, including Imphal East and Imphal West. Suspension of mobile internet and data services in these districts for two days.

Since then, the suspension of mobile Internet and data services has been periodically extended.

Violent mobs attacked houses and bungalows in Imphal East and Imphal West districts on November 16 and 17 and damaged various properties of Ministers, MPs and political leaders.

Police said 41 people were arrested in recent cases of violence and civil unrest.