The start of the national board exams in Manipur has been marked by the emergency relocation of 51 Kuki-Zo students. These children, who attended a government school in the Naga-majority district of Ukhrul, had to leave their classrooms due to a sudden increase in local fighting. On the night of February 15, police and security forces moved 31 boys and 20 girls from the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) Ramva to a safer area in the Kuki-majority district of Kangpokpi.
This move happened just as Class 10 and Class 12 exams began. While the students are now safe, the event highlights how quickly local disputes can threaten the safety of children. Officials are now trying to ensure these students can finish their exams while staying in a new district far from their original school.
Timeline of Local Unrest and Student Relocation
The need to move the students followed a series of violent events that began earlier this month. The situation became too dangerous for the students to remain in their usual dormitories.
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February 7: A fight between two groups in Litan town started the trouble. Reports suggest this began as a small argument that grew into a larger ethnic conflict between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities.
February 7–13: The violence grew. Around 30 houses were burned in the Litan Sareikhong area.
February 15: Security forces decided the students were no longer safe. The Ukhrul District Police picked up the students. They were handed over to the Saikul Police to be taken to Kangpokpi.
February 17: The CBSE Board examinations began. 18 of the moved students were scheduled to sit for these important tests.
"The school authorities requested that the children taking Board examinations be transferred… They have written their exams today," stated a government official.
Recorded Data on the Evacuation
The move involved multiple security groups and a change in official exam plans. The following table shows the details of the students involved.
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| Group | Number of Students | Destination | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Students | 51 | JNV Kangpokpi | Relocated |
| Male Students | 31 | JNV Kangpokpi | Safe |
| Female Students | 20 | JNV Kangpokpi | Safe |
| Exam Candidates | 18 | New Exam Center | Writing Exams |
Core Insight: The relocation was not just a safety move but a logistical necessity to prevent 18 students from missing their final school career exams.
The Conflict in Litan and Safety Concerns
The primary reason for the move was the local fighting in the Litan area of Ukhrul. While the school itself was not the site of the fire, the roads and surrounding villages became unsafe.
House Burnings: Reports confirm that approximately 30 homes were destroyed during the week leading up to the exams.
Police Escorts: The students had to be moved in high-security vehicles. Some were kept at Assam Rifles bases (military camps) for a short time to keep them away from the crowds on the road.
Crowd Confusion: During the move, some local people thought the police vehicles were carrying "miscreants" (people looking to cause trouble). This mistake caused a brief moment of high stress, but local leaders helped the police explain that they were only moving school children.
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If the safety of the school was the only concern, why did the public mistake a police escort for a group of troublemakers? This question points to the high level of distrust currently felt by people living in the region.
Changes to the Board Examination Process
Moving students in the middle of a school year is difficult, but doing so during the national board exams is a major challenge for teachers and officials.
Changing Centers: The exam centers for 18 students in Class 10 and 12 had to be officially moved to JNV Kangpokpi. This required fast paperwork from the education board.
Annual Exams: The rest of the students, who are in younger grades, will take their regular yearly tests at the new school.
Returning Home: The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (the organization that runs the schools) has told workers to give the children back to their parents or guardians once the exams are over.
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There is currently no clear plan for when these 51 students will be able to return to their original school in Ukhrul.
Expert Analysis: A Pattern of Separation
Security experts and community leaders look at this event as a sign of the deeper problems in the state.
Official Views:The Manipur Police released a statement on social media asking all communities to stay calm. They noted that the safety of the students is the "topmost priority." They also asked people to stop spreading rumors that make the fighting worse.
Community Impact:A spokesperson for the school group noted that while the students are safe, they are now separated from their teachers and their usual learning tools. Is it possible for a student to perform well on a major exam after being moved by a police escort in the middle of the night?
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"Laho ensured the safe evacuation of the students… despite heightened tensions," a spokesperson confirmed, highlighting that the move was done under a lot of pressure.
Conclusion
The move of 51 Kuki students from Ukhrul to Kangpokpi shows that the situation in Manipur remains very fragile. While the police and school officials successfully kept the children safe, the event disrupted the lives of 51 families and changed the exam plans for nearly 20 teenagers.
Findings:
The move was a response to violent clashes and house burnings that began on February 7.
A total of 51 students were moved under heavy police and military protection.
18 students have had their national exam centers moved to a different district to ensure they can graduate.
Next Steps:Authorities must now decide how to keep these students in school for the next year. If the tension between the communities does not go down, these children may not be able to return to their original school in Ukhrul. For now, the focus remains on the safety of the 31,500 other students currently taking exams across the state.
Sources
Indian Express: School evacuation before Board exam lays bare Manipur faultlines - Reports on the lack of clarity regarding student return.
The Hindu: 51 Kuki students evacuated from school - Provides details on the 18 students whose exam centers were shifted.
NE Now: Manipur: 51 Kuki-Zo students evacuated from Ukhrul - Discusses the misidentification of students by the public.
Assam Tribune: 51 Kuki students evacuated from tensed Ukhrul - Focuses on the scale of the exams involving 31,500 students.
Hindustan Times: Police evacuate 51 Kuki students from Manipur’s Ukhrul - Confirms the burning of 30 houses in the Litan area.
The Tribune: Police evacuate 51 Kuki students from Manipur's Ukhrul after clashes - Notes the role of local civil society organizations in calming the situation.
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