Manipur: DESAM locks principal offices in Imphal, issues 72-hour ultimatum to govt

Imphal: The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), one of the prominent student outfits, on Wednesday escalated its protest by issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to the government.

It demanded the appointment of regular principals and the return of transferred teachers to ensure quality education in the state.

The action follows growing frustration over a severe shortage of regular principals and teachers, which has disrupted academic activities in several government institutions across the state.

As part of its protest against the deterioration of teacher education, DESAM volunteers on January 7, 2026, locked the principal offices of the Dhana Manjuri College of Teacher Education (DMCTE) and the Hindi Teacher Training College in Imphal.

Speaking to the media at the protest site, DESAM Secretary General N Thoithoiba warned of further agitation if the government fails to meet their demands within the stipulated deadline.

He said the Manipur government had earlier issued notifications for the appointment of contractual teachers and other staff to address the shortages.

Thoithoiba added that years of administrative negligence have pushed both colleges to the brink of losing recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

He cautioned that such an outcome would deal a severe blow to teacher education in Manipur in the coming days.

The shortage of teachers in the two colleges has forced students to walk out of institutions and resort to self-study or rely on temporary volunteer arrangements, which they say are inadequate for higher classes and exam preparation.

Wednesday’s intensified protest is part of a series of demonstrations in Manipur’s education sector, which has also seen teachers protesting against delayed salaries and unfulfilled government assurances.