Police lathi-charge students in Sikkim

Police today once again resorted to lathi-charge to clear the national highway 10 of the students of Sikkim school and college who blocked the road demanding East district Superintendent of Police Manoj Tiwari to apologise for yesterday's cane-charge.

The lathi-charge was ordered after eight-hours long negotiations with the students failed, and imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC and firing of tear gas shells failed to yield any result, the SP said. The protesters vandalised parked vehicles and pelted stones for an hour after which the lathi charge was ordered, Tiwari said.

The students refused to listen even to the District Collector, East, A K Singh who was allegedly manhandled by the students this morning when he was trying to negotiate with them, the SP said. The ADGP, Home Secretary, Suresh Chandra Gupta and Secretary HRD, Thomas Chandi went to the spot in the afternoon, but their requests also did not have any effect on the protesters. 

Demanding roll back of the recent hike in college fee, from Rs 321 to Rs 1,200 by the HRD Ministry, the students staged blockade before the Sikkim Government College yesterday also. Police had yesterday also resorted to lathi charge to clear the blockade.  The matter of the fee hike was, however, resolved after the state government rolled back the increase in fees by 6:00 PM yesterday.