Imphal, August 23: Northeast girl students at the RK School of Nursing hostel in Andhra Pradesh were allegedly assaulted during a confrontation with local students and residents, prompting Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to intervene and direct the administration to ensure their safety.According to Prof Ajailiu Niumai, Secretary of the North East Connect Association (NECA), the confrontation followed repeated complaints by the Northeast students over allegedly missing clothes and personal belongings from the hostel.Niumai said the immediate incident began after a Naga student returned from taking a bath to find her mobile phone missing. The phone had reportedly been left charging nearby. Her friends, 31 students belonging to the Zeliangrong, Chiru Naga and Meitei communities, approached a teacher and requested that an FIR be registered.The phone was later found without its SIM card and charger, Niumai said, adding that the incident led to a heated argument between the students.According to his account, some local students subsequently called their parents, following which local residents arrived at the hostel. Niumai alleged that the Northeast students were attacked with sticks and stones.Police personnel, including women constables, reached the hostel to bring the situation under control. Niumai also alleged that an altercation later took place between the students and police personnel, with four women constables allegedly pushed while attempting to pacify the situation.The allegations regarding the assault and the sequence of events have not been independently verified.Niumai said the Superintendent of Police assured the students that they would not be removed from the hostel and that the matter would be resolved at the earliest. The college management was also directed to cooperate with the police, while the SP reportedly warned that the institution could face closure if the situation was not brought under control.A video of the confrontation and alleged physical assault Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said he contacted the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office regarding the incident. He said he was informed that the district administration and police had been advised to look into the matter seriously.Biren Singh later said the students had been shifted to another building and that a woman Sub-Inspector was stationed with them overnight. He thanked Naidu and the district administration for their timely intervention, saying the students were now “in safe hands”.IPS officer Robin Hibu, president of Helping Hand, also intervened and spoke to one of the senior students. He advised the students to contact the 112 emergency service if police assistance was required and sought the deployment of an English- or Hindi-speaking police officer to assist them.In a message following the intervention, one of the students thanked those who came forward to help them and said the Northeast students were safe. She said they had been shifted to separate accommodation and that authorities had assured them the matter would be resolved.