Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 12 2008:
OFFICE ROOMS of three top officials of the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BSEM) were locked today by volunteers of two powerful student bodies as the deadline set by them for removal of the chairman, secretary and controller of the examination of the board has expired.
Police later broke the locks around 2.30 pm.
Democratic Students' Alliance, Manipur (DESAM) and the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) have been demanding removal of BSEM's chairman, secretary and controller of examination to the state government alleging them of manipulating in the recently declared results of the HSLC Examination (Old Course) conducted by the board.
Non-conversion into action by the state government even after the expiry of the deadlines set on November 10 last has compelled the volunteers of the students body to lock down the rooms.
"We are compelled to lock the office rooms as government failed to response to our call for removal of the three officials," said a volunteer taking part in locking the doors of the rooms at the BSEM office, Bapupara just opposite to the Imphal police station.
Around 10 volunteers intruded who came to the office go up up-stair without saying any word and turned out all the staffs inside the office chambers of the three officials and closed the doors and put pad-locks then left the premise quietly, an employee of the board told this correspondent.
It was occurred at around 11 am.
None of the three officials were in the office at that time, he informed.
Later, the students bodies have threatened that they will launch other intensify forms of agitations if government still remains silent without removing the three officials while hardening their stance.
Speaking to the reporters, secretary general, AMSU, T Premananda alleged that in the recently declared result of the HSLC Examination (Old Course) conducted by the BSEM, candidates whose examination forms had already been rejected at the time of submission applications were found in the list of withheld roll numbers.
"It shows that some high level officials of the board indulge in corruption in connivance with some school headmasters," he said.
He said they had submitted representation to the state education minister to take up appropriate action against those officials on or before November 10.But no action is taken even two day pass since the expiry of the set deadlines.
He also observed that it was very unfortunate thing that the authority of the board and some schools conspired and committed wrong deeds while people are demanding for bringing quality education in the state.
General Secretary of DESAM, Y Ratan said that the two students bodies had earlier urged the board to conduct an enquiry on the alleged fraud but no apparent action so far taken up by the top officials of the board which "we assume as a challenge to the people.