The three apex student bodies of Churachandpur district—Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) Churachandpur, Zomi Students Federation (ZSF-GHQ), and Hmar Students Association (HSA)—have demanded the immediate withdrawal of two recent admission notices issued by Manipur University, alleging that students from their communities have continued to be excluded from accessing higher education since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.
In a joint statement, the student organisations expressed disappointment over the University's "Admission to Two-Year Postgraduate Programmes" notification dated June 23, 2026, and the "Pre-PhD Admission Notice 2026" issued on July 1, 2026.
According to the student bodies, students belonging to the Kuki-Zo communities have been unable to return to the Manipur University campus at Canchipur, Imphal, since May 3, 2023. They claimed that around 400 postgraduate students and 80 PhD scholars were affected and were allegedly left without any alternative arrangements to continue or complete their studies.
The student bodies stated that while admission processes continued for the academic years 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26, and now 2026–27, the concerns of students from their communities remained unaddressed. They alleged that the University had continued functioning without ensuring access for students who they said are also stakeholders of the institution.
The joint statement further alleged that Manipur University had failed to uphold the principles of accessibility and equitypromoted by the University Grants Commission (UGC), contending that the University's location in Canchipur remains inaccessible to students from their communities due to the prevailing situation.
The student bodies demanded the immediate withdrawal of the two admission notifications and called for the establishment of a Study Centre or Extension Centre in Churachandpur district to facilitate postgraduate and doctoral education for affected students.
They also sought exemption from CUET (PG) 2026 for eligible students from Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Tengnoupal and other affected districts, and urged the University to issue fresh admission notifications with at least one month's time for applications.
The three student body further stated that Manipur University should take concrete measures to compensate for what they described as the educational losses suffered by students from their communities over the past three academic years.
They warned that if their demands are not addressed within one week, they would be compelled to launch more intensive forms of democratic agitation.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
