Marksheet tampering scandal in varsity rocks Manipur

IMPHAL, Jan 13— The scandal over the alleged tampering of marksheets in Manipur University, has rocked the State since the past couple of weeks. The Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) is demanding a detailed report from the University authority on or before January 14. The general secretary of Musu K Muktasana and president of Musu N Jiten in a joint statement asked the authority concerned to do the needful in the welfare of the students community in Manipur. The members of the students union also locked the keys of examination section and computer section of the University in view of the University authority’s failure to declare the examination results of the MA, MSc, M Com and MCA in time. The keys have been handed over to the Vice Chancellor of the varsity, sources said. On the other hand, the All Manipur students Union (AMSU) has also demanded immediate resignation of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Hijam Tombi if he is unable to resolve the scandal and also to announce the examination result within January 20. The joint secretary of the AMSU Ch Brozendro in a press statement expressed the apprehension of involving the Vice Chancellor himself in the scandal over the tempering of marksheets in the University. The student body is also demanding an inquiry into the incident. In view of the development, the higher education sector of the government has reportedly instructed the Manipur University authority to declare the results of the examinations conducted during 2001 within 45 days time. Sources said the higher education department in the State has taken up steps to check the loss of students’ academic year due to the University’s failure to declare the examination results in time. The secretary of the higher and technical education IS Laishram said to the local media that he had inspected most of the colleges both in hills and valley, adding that most of the students do not attend college even for 120 days and students whose absence record 75 per cent and who have failed in the terminal examinations will not be allowed to sit in the final examinations. IS Laishram said the State has 71 colleges, of this 29 are government colleges including the government polytechnic and most of them affiliated to the Manipur University. At this juncture, the banned outfit Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (O) has also warned the Manipur University authority particularly the assistant controller of the varsity, K Manihar to surrender to the organisation by January 17 or else harsh punishment would be given. The organisations in a statement issued here on Friday said that the assistant controller of the University has been summoned many times, if he does not surrender to the party within January 17, harsh punishment would be meted out, it said. Sources said K Manihar has been placed under suspension for his alleged complicacy in the scandal.