Manipur College Teachers Protest "Unbearable" Extortion Threats in Bishnupur

Teachers and non-teaching employees of Thambal Marik Oinam College in Bishnupur district staged a sit-in protest on Monday against reported extortion threats from masked organisations, terming the monetary demands as "unbearable" and threatening academic stability.

Organized by the Employees Association of the college, the protest was staged during working hours, de facto suspended regular classes for the day. Employees gathered within the college campus with placards inscribed with slogans such as "We condemn unbearable monetary demand" and "Do not disturb peaceful academic atmosphere."

Employees Association general secretary Dr. L. Baleshwar stated the protest was organized due to some incidents over the past few days where anonymous groups of people served financial demand notices to college employees personally. "The demands were served within the campus, and they have upset teachers and staff members," he informed journalists.

Dr. Baleshwar informed that the college community has all along reached out to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since ethnic violence erupted in 2023 and continues to do so as best as possible. "It is saddening that despite our having assisted humanitarian efforts all along, we are now facing unacceptable pressure from unseen quarters," he further added.

The college has called for peace and protection of schools from intruders. Dr. Baleshwar has requested the parties involved to reconsider their action and be mindful of the fiscal constraints and obligations of educational institutions. "We are educators, not accountants. Such coercion only agitates the academic environment we are trying to provide," he said.

While Manipur continues to struggle with the impacts of civil unrest, this incident underscores the precariousness of public institutions and the rising challenges for teachers in striving to give normalcy amidst ongoing uncertainty.