Students attack exam centre, 16 faint
Student bodies condemn violence at ACME Hr Sec School
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal/Thoubal, February 25 2023: One female teacher and 15 students lost consciousness and had to be hospitalised after some students appearing in the class XII examination at ACME Higher Secondary School, Yairipok pelted stones at the examination halls and vandalised the school properties.

The incident occurred with five minutes remaining of the COHSEM-conducted class XII examination having Manipuri (MM) paper on Saturday when some students demanded additional time and started violent protest.

Students of Azad Higher Secondary School, Yairipok Tulihal are appearing the exam at the centre and of the total 409 students who opted Manipuri paper, four were absent On Saturday.

When the warning bell rang five minutes before completion of the exam, students whose papers have been collected by invigilators came out of their examination rooms and started pelting stones at the school building while alleging that some students are given additional time.

Benches and desks in four examination rooms, computer sets and other items in the principal's room were also damaged in the attack.

The attack also left one female teacher and 15 students fainted and all of them were rushed to CHC Yairipok for treatment.

COHSEM secretary Ch Biren personally inspected the school after the incident and decided to resume examination under strict security arrangement.

On the other hand, Private School Development Committee, Thoubal district has submitted a written complaint requesting necessary legal action against eight students involved in the vandalism at ACME Higher Secondary School.

Meanwhile, six student bodies of the state have strongly condemned the violence at the ACME school, Yairipok on Saturday.

In a joint press release, the six student bodies namely Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK), Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS) and another student' body said that after hearing news of the incident, their volunteers rushed to the school.

It was found that some students of Azad Higher Secondary School, whose examination centre happened to be ACME Higher Secondary School, began destroying the benches and desks inside the classrooms towards the end of the examination.

Stones were pelted both from inside the campus and outside the school.

Several students were also reportedly injured in the ensuing chaos.

The student bodies continued that around 405 students of Azad Higher Secondary School sat for the examination at this examination centre on Saturday.

Although the exact cause of the violence could not be determined, it is speculated that the students might have protested against disallowing use unfair means, considering the strict adherence of examination rules at this centre.

Stating that the incident should not be taken lightly, the student bodies remarked that the attitude of some students to protest, tear up answer scripts and vandalise the examination centres when prevented from using unfair means, is not only embarrassing but highly unfortunate for the entire state.

Urging the authority concerned to identify the students who incited the violence and gave them "exemplary punishment" so as to prevent other students from committing such demoralising acts in the future; the six student bodies said that they would be taking serious note of the matter.

The bodies further appealed to the government to take the appropriate legal action at the earliest and also provide counselling service to those in need.

Comment