IMPHAL, June 4: The B.A., B.Sc. and B.Com. 4th semester examination of Manipur University began today with disruptions by volunteers of College Students’ Council Manipur (CSCM) in several colleges in Imphal.
The CSCM had earlier demanded the release of CC Higher Secondary School Students’ Union General Secretary Bruce Pebam and former General Secretary of Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School Students’ Union Loitongbam Bidya Laxmi who were arrested by the police during an ILPS agitation on May 26.
Candidates and examination officials found the main gate of NG College at Lamphelpat locked by volunteers. However, the examination went on peacefully after a police team of police came and forced open the gate to allow entry of students and college authorities.
CSCM volunteers succeeded in disrupting the examination at DM College of Arts and DM College of Commerce, but they were stopped at the examination hall of the DM College of Science by police where heavy reinforcement of police was already in place.
Meanwhile, the GP Women College was vandalized by some student volunteers as they were stopped from disrupting the examination centre there.
General Secretary of the Students’ Union Sarjulata Yumnam appealed to all to allow the smooth conduct of the examination and to make education a free zone.
She said, the students of the college have been participating in the movement demanding implementation of the ILP in the State.
Any form of agitations should not disturb the conduct of examinations as such disruptions tend to create tension among the appearing students, she said.
She asserted since the university has not cancelled the examination, the students had come and appear in the exams as they would be marked absent if they fail to turn up.
Sarjulata said, student volunteers had damaged nine computers along with printers, school chairs, window panes, etc.
She further said the police personnel guarding the college were unable to stop the agitating students since they were girl students.
Although the exam was conducted, the appearing students were under added pressure and tension due to the disruption attempts, she added.
It is also learnt that some volunteers had also come on June 3 to halt the ongoing practical examination, however, the college authorities turned them away.