More Students Arrive In Odisha Capital From Ethnic Violence-Hit Manipur, Narrate Their Ordeal

Bhubaneswar: Twenty-one more students, stranded in violence Manipur, returned to Odisha capital late on Monday. They are from NIT Manipur, Central Agricultural University, National Sports University at Imphal and the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Imphal.

According to sources, the students were escorted by the Army from their respective campuses to Imphal airport. They reached Guwahati around 11.30am on Monday and land at Biju Patnaik International Airport here at 10pm.

The Odisha government facilitated their safe evacuation and arranged for their flight tickets, lodging, boarding and onward journey.

They were received at Biju Patnaik International Airport here and send to their destinations after a night halt at the Panthanivas here.

Narrating their ordeal, a student said that they had been living under fear on their varsity campus as they could hear the gunshots and explosions. Another student said that food and water were scare and then they contacted the state government for help.

On May 7, 10  students of Central Agriculture University, Imphal, had returned from the Manipur Capital. Two students from a different institute also arrived here that evening.

OSD to Chief Secretary and director, Mo Paribar, Dilip Routray told the media that they initially got to know about these students since they could access internet and contact the government through WhatsApp. “Later, we came to know about 15 students stranded at NIT and then about those at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). It was late on Sunday evening that we got to know about the students of National Sports University. Tourism Department took good care of these students. They were kept at Panthanivas and dropped at the railway station and bus stops this morning,” he said.

“We have not received any more requests from students or others for the rescue from Manipur,” he added.

“Special thanks to Dillip Routrai,OSD @SecyChief & director of newly created ‘Odisha Paribar’ directorate who coordinated the entire plan. Also thanks to Col Verma, @ushapadhee1996, officers &staff of @otdcltd, manager Utkal Bhawan Kolkata for supporting all through,” Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena tweeted.

Since flights were running full, it was not easy to get a flight ticket and senior government officials helped arrange those for the students, sources further said.