Imphal: A wave of student unrest has gripped the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, where MBBS students have launched an intense protest for the second straight day, demanding the immediate removal of the Director, Dean, and Sub-Dean. The demonstrations erupted following disturbing allegations of verbal abuse and mental harassment directed at students by senior administrative officials.
Tensions boiled over after the Director allegedly made deeply inappropriate and threatening remarks, telling students to “dance naked,” “commit suicide,” or risk being “hanged” by him. Outraged by what they described as humiliating and psychologically scarring language, students staged a campus-wide protest, holding placards that read: “Why Director Want Us To Be Naked,” “We Accept Punishment Not Harassment,” “We Condemn Sexual Harassment of Girls,” and “We Demand Removal of Director, Dean and Sub Dean.”
In addition to the Director’s alleged remarks, students have also accused the Dean and Sub-Dean of sustained mental harassment, creating a toxic atmosphere that they say has left many of them emotionally distressed. The protestors are now demanding swift intervention from higher authorities to hold those responsible accountable and restore a safe academic environment.
In response, RIMS issued a clarification through its Media Cell, defending the disciplinary actions taken against several students. According to the institute, teachers had verbally reported that some students were planning to skip classes for a picnic on April 30, a regular working day, despite being warned against it due to the prevailing instability in the state. The following day, the administration found that the students had defied the instructions, prompting disciplinary action that included 15-day suspensions, fines, and instructions to stay off-campus during the suspension period.
While the RIMS administration framed its actions as necessary measures to maintain discipline, the students assert that the severity of language and psychological intimidation they faced far exceeded the bounds of professional conduct. With student anger intensifying, the protest has snowballed into a demand for systemic change in the institute’s leadership. Calls for external inquiry and governmental intervention are growing louder as the administration and student body remain locked in confrontation.
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