Assam government concerned over clashes in Sikkim institute
September 8th, 2009 - 10:15 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, Sep 8 (IANS) The Assam government Tuesday expressed serious concern over clashes breaking out in a Sikkim college between students from the state and locals in which some Assamese students were injured.
“We are taking the matter very seriously and are in constant touch with the Sikkim government to ensure that students from Assam studying at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology are safe,” Assam government spokesperson and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told IANS.
The minister is going to the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, situated on the outskirts of Sikkim capital Gangtok, Wednesday to take stock of the situation.
According to information, scores of students, mostly from Assam, were injured in violent attacks by locals in the area since Monday evening.
“Students of the Institute were targeted by locals after an altercation during a football match turned violent,” a teacher at the institute said by telephone requesting he not be named.
Groups of locals armed with crude implements started attacking students Monday and on Tuesday.
Police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in strength around the campus to prevent further attacks.
“Many students from Assam who boarded buses and other public transport were stopped on the road and forced to get down and then severely assaulted,” the teacher said.
At least 20 students have since been admitted to hospitals with serious injuries.
“There is tension in the area, although things are under control now,” a police official in Gangtok said.
There are some 800 students from Assam studying at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology.
- Probe ordered in Assam's violent protests - Jun 23, 2011
- Quake-hit Sikkim puts toll at 23, surveys horror - Sep 19, 2011
- Assam records reduced maternal death ratio - Jan 29, 2012
- PM's heart surgeon Ramakant Panda injured in accident - Dec 27, 2010
- AIDS victim's kin to get money from state - Mar 17, 2012
- Mamata visits Sikkim, meets quake-affected - Sep 20, 2011
- Army called out after NDFB mows down 12 Assam villagers (Lead) - Oct 05, 2009
- 100 injured as passenger train bombed in Assam (Third Lead) - Jul 11, 2011
- Sikkim quake toll 78, Chidambaram promises all help (Lead) - Sep 22, 2011
- Assam offers medical advice on phone - Jul 20, 2010
- Voting continues peacefully in Assam (Second Lead) - Apr 11, 2011
- Second phase polling underway in Assam (Lead) - Apr 11, 2011
- Moderate to heavy polling in Assam (Third Lead) - Apr 11, 2011
- Post-Sikkim quake: ham radio, bamboo applications recommended for northeast - Nov 15, 2011
- ULFA claims minister is ex-member - Dec 18, 2011
Tags: altercation, assam government, assamese, clashes, constant touch, evening students, football match, government spokesperson, guwahati, health minister, institute of technology, locals, manipal institute of technology, outskirts, police official, public transport, sarma, sikkim manipal institute, sikkim manipal institute of technology, violent attacks