DESAM storms BOSEM office

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 9 : Volunteers of the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) stormed the office of the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) at Babupara once again today, protesting the alleged use of substandard paper in the printing of textbooks and answer sheets.
Three protesters were reportedly injured as a brief scuffle broke out between the demonstrators and police personnel.
Notably, DESAM had carried out a similar protest on May 21.
During the protest, DESAM volunteers insisted that they would not leave the spot until they meet the Education Commissioner.
Staging a sit-in in front of the BOSEM office, they demanded that the Govt blacklist the firm responsible for supplying sub- standard paper for printing textbooks and set up a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the matter.
The protesters condemned the alleged inaction of BOSEM and the Manipur Government, calling for the removal of the Education (S) Commissioner, BOSEM Chairman-in-charge, and Secretary-in-charge.
Speaking to the media, DESAM president Oinam Romesh said that the organisation has repeatedly urged the relevant authorities to investigate the alleged paper scam, but no action has been taken so far.
Questioning whether the Government is serious about providing quality education in Manipur, he urged authorities to take strict action against the firm that supplied substandard paper.
"Why is the Government still silent on the issue?" he asked.
The protest intensified after police attempted to disperse the demonstrators.
When the protesters refused to move, the police threatened to arrest them.
Later, police used a chilli spray, which hit the face of a DESAM woman volunteer.
She fell unconscious and was immediately taken to a hospital.
The police also tried to arrest several DESAM volunteers, prompting the demonstrators to confront the officers.
In response, the protesters demanded that all of them be arrested.
They attempted to storm the Imphal Police Station, leading to a heated confrontation between the protesters and police at the station gate.
Two DESAM volunteers were injured in the standoff.
Protesters claimed that a security personnel kicked a woman participant, leading them to raise slogans against the act.
The situation was brought under control after a team of police, led by the Imphal West SP, arrived at the scene and held talks with DESAM leaders.