Imphal: Three apex student organisations in Churachandpur have given Manipur University a one-week ultimatum to withdraw its recent admission notifications and establish alternative study facilities for students affected by the ongoing ethnic violence.
They warned that if their demands are not met within a week, they will launch intensified democratic protests.
The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Churachandpur, the Zomi Students Federation (ZSF-GHQ), and the Hmar Students Association (HSA) expressed disappointment over the university’s “Admission to Two-Year Postgraduate Programmes” notification issued on June 23, 2026, and the “Pre-PhD Admission Notice 2026” issued on July 1, 2026.
In a joint statement, the student bodies said students from the Kuki-Zo communities have been unable to safely access the university’s main campus at Canchipur in Imphal since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.
They claimed that around 400 postgraduate students and 80 PhD scholars have remained excluded from higher education, with no alternative arrangements made despite admissions continuing for the 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic sessions.
The organisations alleged that conducting the admission process without ensuring safe access to the campus for Kuki-Zo students violates the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) principles of accessibility and equity.
They demanded that the university establish a study centre or extension centre in Churachandpur district to facilitate postgraduate and doctoral education for affected students.
They also sought exemption from CUET (PG) 2026 for eligible candidates from Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Kangpokpi, Chandel and Tengnoupal districts.
The student bodies further demanded fresh admission notifications with a minimum application window of one month and urged the university to introduce concrete measures to compensate Kuki-Zo students for the academic losses they have suffered over the past three years.
They warned that if the university authorities fail to respond to their demands within one week, they will be compelled to launch intensified democratic agitation.