IMPHAL, Oct 23 � The Thadou Students� Association-Delhi & NCR has condemned the recent attack on three students from Manipur � T Michael Lamjathang Haokip, 26, Ngamkholen Haokip, 28, and Rocky Kipgen, 25, in Bangalore.
The incident, which occurred on the night of October 14 in Kothanur, Bangalore, started when a group of local people demanded Michael and his friends speak Kannada, the local language. Michael, who is the president of the Thadou Students� Association, Bangalore branch, and his friends Ngamkholen and Rocky, who are members of the association, are currently studying in Bangalore. When the students ignored the locals� demand, the latter took it as an insult, leading to the assault.
According to the Thadou Students� Association, Michael ran to the police station to seek police help to rescue his friend, Letmang Haokip, who was surrounded by the group of locals who also robbed Letmang�s belongings. Had it not been for the police intervention, the situation would have been much worse.
�We laud the police for their timely action in this incident and for arresting the three perpetrators,� the Association said.
�What was even more shocking was that the people who gathered at the scene immediately sided with the attackers and joined in the attack. It was reported that people who allegedly have links with a local politician helped the attackers escape.�
�The incident is highly deplorable and we demand appropriate action against the perpetrators and all involved in the attack according to the law of the land, and we also demand that all-needed support and assistance be extended to the victims of the crime,� the Association.
�We also condemn the recent racially-motivated incidents in Delhi and demand that justice be delivered in all cases in a timely and satisfying manner,� it added.
�Considering the frequency of such incidents in the country, we call upon the government, the Central as well as State governments, to initiate permanent remedial measures, not just crisis intervention,� it added.
