The Kuki students, including 48 female students were arrested following a clash between personnel of the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force and the Kuki students at the Jantar Manta near the Parliament. They were freed from Tihar Jail (Central Jail) today except for Mr. Thang Boi, General Secretary of the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO).

"Apparently the police would like to interrogate him (Mr. Thang Boi) about the incident on Friday as he is suspected to be the leader or the main organiser of the students involved in the protest," said Mr. Hau Hangluah Simte, former president of the Khangthah Zuun Pawl (KZP).

Several students from northeast India in Delhi gathered in front of the Jawaharal Nehru University (JNU) Students Union office to receive the freed students and hosted a dinner where two Lok Sabha MPs from Manipur state were present.

"Their faces looked pale probably due to complete denial of food and water during the first two days. They were given rotis instead of our staple food – rice, during the other two days of detention," said Luntinsat, General Secretary of the Kuki Students Democratic Front (KSDF). 

On March 23, around 500 Kuki students under the aegis of the KSO staged a protest rally in New Delhi seeking the release of 400-odd Kuki villagers abducted by the UNLF, a Manipur insurgent outfit, in cahoots with the Burmese military and taken to Burma.

Almost 30 students including girls and two police personnel were injured as the peace rally turned violent. One student leader was seriously injured and admitted to AIIMS hospital in New Delhi.

Member of Parliament Mani Charinamei not only sought an apology from the police for their alleged assault on the students but compensation for the arrested Kuki students. The MP also called on the Union Government to ensure the safe return of the 400 abducted Kuki villagers. – KNG.