Strongly registering their concerns over the heinous act of placing grenade bomb at the premises of Zonal Education Office, Ukhrul in Manipur by miscreants on Wednesday, the protesting students and staff along with the staff of ZEO office held a sit-in protest at ZEO office premises on Thursday and called for ensuring educational institutions and offices a safe and secure zone.
As many as 21 educational institutions in the heart of Ukhrul town took part in the protest.
The protesting students and staff held placards which read, “Threats do not protect, they destroy, choose peace; fear tactics do not belong here, and society cannot prosper under threats,” among others.
The ZEO Office was located at Phungreitang Ukhrul, near Ava market (Ema market).
Sources said that following timely spotting of the bomb, it was safely disposed of. The Association of Recognised Schools Ukhrul District (ARSUD) strongly denounced the planting of bombs at the premises of ZEO office, Ukhrul.
“The dastardly act of planting bombs at the premises of ZEO office is denounced in the strongest terms,” ARSUD said in a statement issued on Thursday.
“The office is the powerhouse of education for the district, the guide and mentor to all the educational institutions. This threat against education is a threat against the progress of the society. Education is the backbone and the channel to usher growth, prosperity and survival of a nation. Nobody should dared to destroy our own future,” it stated.
The incident took place on Wednesday while an orientation programme on Automatic Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) under NEP 2020 initiated by ZEO, Ukhrul was scheduled to be held for all the school heads, teacher in-charges and other officials from the ZEO/ education department.
Following timely spotting of the bomb, many lives had been saved from any further casualties, it mentioned.
The ARSUD on behalf of all the school fraternity representing all the teachers and students voiced to all the citizens to make educational offices and institutions a ‘free and safe zone.’
Despite all the issues within the society, learning must not be disrupted from any quarters. It further called upon the concerned authority “to ensure and act, and make educational offices and institutions a free and safe zone in our land.”
At the time of filing this report, no individual or armed group had owned responsibility for the incident.
