Students vandalize exam centre over extra time

Eight students appearing in the ongoing Class-XII examinations conducted by Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) resorted to vandalism at their examination centre at ACME Higher Secondary School at Yairipok of Thoubal district on Saturday. They later surrendered to the police on Sunday even as the state education department ordered a probe into the vandalism.
A local source claimed that the students who were angered after additional time was allotted to others but not to them even as another source alleged that the students indulged in the vandalism after teachers on examination duty denied unfair means during the examination.
Properties of the school, including benches and desks were damaged in the vandalism at the concluding part of day’s exam when some students started pelting stones toward the school.
The vandalism was allegedly perpetrated by students of the Azad Higher Secondary School appearing for the exam at the centre (ACME Higher Secondary School).
In the melee, at least 15 students were injured and one female teacher fell unconscious and they were immediately rushed to a Community Health Centre at Yairipok.
The Yairipok police station has initiated an investigation into the incident after lodging a case under 148/353/307/427/34 IPC relating to rioting. In the FIR , the police pointed out eight students as instigators of the uproar.
The eight students turned up at the Yairipok police station and surrendered. The police formally arrested them and initiated legal action against them, the source said.
All the surrendered students belonged to Azad Higher Secondary School appearing in the ongoing examination at the centre.
Meanwhile, the state education department has ordered a probe into the vandalism at the exam centre involving students appearing in the exam.
While inquiring to fix responsibility on those who triggered the unrest, the inquiry will also ascertain the circumstances leading to the uproar of the students.
The inquiry report to be submitted on Monday will also suggest measures to be taken up to prevent such incidents in future.
Talking to media today, state education minister Th Basantakumar asserted that the state government took the matter seriously and appropriate legal actions against the erring students.
The minister said that the report of the inquiry would be submitted by Monday.
He further informed that fresh examination for the particular subject for the students appearing the exam at the particular centre will be conducted.
The prompt action of inquiring about the incident came after various student bodies demanded action against the student responsible for the vandalism.
The examination for Class-XII conducted by the COHSEM commenced on February 23 ends on April 1. A total of 36, 717 students at 120 different examination centers across the state are appearing in this year’s examination.