Imphal, Manipur, December 6 (HBTV): A large group of tribal students staged a protest today at the GP College gate in Imphal, demanding the release of scholarships under the National Scholarship Portal for the 2023-24 academic year.   

The protest was organized by the All Colleges Students Union Imphal and took place in front of GP Women’s College. 

The students gathered early in the morning and began voicing their concerns about the delayed release of scholarships. The protest intensified as it moved towards the nearby TG Higher Secondary School, located close to the Raj Bhavan. 

As the demonstration escalated, the police and personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force arrived at the scene to disperse the crowd. Efforts to control the situation led to the use of tear gas shells by the security forces. Despite this, the students continued to stand their ground. 

Tribal Affairs & Hills department officials, including Additional Director ST Rithung, arrived at the site in an attempt to engage with the students and address their grievances. However, the students remained firm in their demand for the timely release of their scholarships. 

The protest marked a significant show of unity among the tribal students’ community, who expressed frustration over the delayed disbursement of financial aid, which they said has affected their academic progress.

The standoff continued for several hours with students refusing to leave until their demands were acknowledged by the authorities. The situation eventually calmed down as police and department officials began discussions with the protest leaders.