“Let Us Learn Without Fear”: Sinakeithei students protest gunfire

Over 140 school students from Sinakeithei village in Ukhrul district took to the streets on Friday, demanding urgent security measures and an end to violence that has disrupted their education.
Amid reports of continued gunfire allegedly by Kuki militants in and around the village, students from three schools have been forced to abandon normal classes and assemble at a government school campus for safety. The children, some in uniform, staged a protest under the banner “Protest Against the Ongoing Kuki Terrorists’ Attack in Sinakeithei Village”, raising slogans such as “We demand security,” “We demand justice,” and “We deserve peace.”
The participating institutions included Model English School, Sinakeithei Chingshang High School and Council Primary School, and Chi-Ching MK Academy. Their protest underscored the severity of the situation, with education in the area effectively paralysed due to fear and insecurity.
As uncertainty deepens, the students made a direct appeal to the authorities for immediate intervention to halt the violence and restore normalcy. They also called for accountability and protection, stating that their right to education is being undermined by the prevailing conflict.
The demonstration highlighted the growing impact of the unrest on civilians, particularly children, with the absence of a secure environment raising serious concerns over safety and access to education in the region.