Expelled examinees, outsiders cause unrest

EOI, Malda, 6 May 2014: Vandalism by expelled examinees today during the history examination for the 3rd year graduation honours course has caused a major setback in as many as four colleges. Chanchal College reported most unruly scenes, which is 75km away from Malda town. Examinees there expelled for taking recourse to unfair means attacked and ransacked the college following which the examination was suspended.

Vice Chancellor Prof Gopal Mishra had to call in officiating registrar Shyam Sundar Bairagya and inspector of colleges Apurba Chakraborty to take control of the situation at Chanchal College. They were at the campus again in the evening for an emergency meeting that was attended by the VC, officiating registrar, IC, controller of examinations Sanatan Das and the heads of Chanchal College, Samsi College, Harischandrapur College and Kaliachak College.

Chanchal College sources said 450 examinees from Samsi College and 38 from Harischandrapur College were writing their history paper at 10am in the morning. As invigilators found out some examinees were cheating openly, they snatched away their answer-scripts and asked them to leave.

But within 30 minutes, the expelled examinees, reportedly accompanied by a large number of outsiders, were back at the college and went on a rampage. In addition to ransacking the college, they forcibly snatched away the copies of the remaining examinees and tore them into pieces.

When the examinees writing sincerely protested against this, the expelled ones and goons threatened them with dire consequences. Furniture and valuable assets of the college were allegedly destroyed. The police had to rush in again, but they could do nothing as the vandals were present in large numbers.

Chanchal College teacher-in-charge Gahul Amin said some examinees who were suspended for taking to unfair means organised an attack on the college with the help of outsiders. When a larger contingent of police reached the spot, the miscreants had disappeared.

Expressing concern over the issue, Amin said, “We are torn with uncertainty on how to conduct the examinations till May 19. We fear such attacks could recur.”

“We collected as many as 350 torn answer scripts,” said IC Chakraborty. “Those along with CCTV footage will be produced in the meeting this evening.”

Registrar Bairagya said, “The in-charge was asked to lodge an FIR against the miscreants.”

Another ruckus on a smaller scale was also reported from Kaliachak College where COE Sanatan Das had to face irate examinees.

The VC said, “It is an unfortunate incident and we will take action based on the report of the registrar and the IC. The vandals will be dealt with sternly.”

Both the VC and the registrar refused to comment whether the examination will be cancelled.