VIJAYAWADA: Prompt intervention by top district authorities successfully defused an escalating dispute between local Telugu students and students from Northeastern States at SK College of Nursing in Kakinada on Saturday.
The tension originated over a missing mobile phone, which quickly deteriorated into a heated confrontation between the two groups of students.
Agitated over the college management’s handling of their grievance, the Northeastern students alleged that local students were receiving preferential treatment, leading to demonstrations and counter-protests from both sides on the campus.
When video footage of the entire episode was posted on social media, former Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh alerted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s office over X.
Attaching videos of the incident, he posted, “Deeply concerned by reports of a clash at SK School of Nursing in AP involving students from the Northeast, including Manipur. I request Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to kindly look into the matter and ensure the safety of the students. Our children must feel safe wherever they are in our country.”
Taking serious note of the situation, the CM reviewed the incident and immediately directed senior officials to resolve the issue.
Acting on his instructions, the Kakinada District Collector and District Superintendent of Police dispatched senior police and revenue officials to the hostel premises to mediate. Recognising the sensitivity of the issue, authorities facilitated the safe relocation of 31 students from Northeastern States to an alternative hostel facility with their consent.
“Our children in SK School of Nursing, Andhra Pradesh are in safe hands now. I thank Shri @ncbn Garu, Hon’ble CM of Andhra Pradesh and the district administration for your timely intervention,” Biren Singh posted on X.
Following the combined administrative response and inter-state coordination, peace was fully restored to the campus. Expressing satisfaction over the protective measures taken by the district administration, the Northeastern students, including those from Manipur, extended their gratitude to police and revenue officials for ensuring their safety and resolving the crisis amicably.
