Manipal: With the assembly elections just round the corner, it is not only the parties and government that are facing the heat. Manipal students too have to bear the “cutbacks” that come with any such event. Interestingly, most students have nothing to do with the elections as they are a part of the floating population in Manipal.
The night life of Manipal students is probably the most affected part of their lives. With semester-end euphoria on an all time high, even as exams come near, students were left disappointed as pubs and discs in Manipal strictly adhered to the curfew timings and closed down as early as 11:30. Students attending farewell and good bye parties had to get back quite early. "We cannot do anything about it. If it was a normal time, maybe we can close a bit late, but during elections, we cannot do any mistakes. They will take us straight to jail. Even the police officers are very careful during these times" said the owner of a bar in Manipal, on conditions of anonymity.
Parties, which were scheduled to happen during the previous weekend, were also cancelled. A Theme party to be held at a popular disc in Manipal was also cancelled owing to the strict vigil maintained by the Election Commission officers.
Strict vehicle checks are also being conducted by cops near the Eashwar Nagar area. This area is known to have a large number of students, staying as tenants in private houses, who own bikes. The Police have been setting up barricades near Parota Point at about 10 pm every night for a week now and have even started checking registration papers and licences.
"I don't find it very irritating, but I just hope all of this gets over soon and we get back to normal," says Rajshekhar Jha, a student resident of Eashwar Nagar.
Sub-edited by Bibhash Dash |
