Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Three volunteers of the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), including a woman, were injured in clashes with police on Tuesday during a protest over alleged irregularities in the procurement of paper used for textbooks and examination materials.
The confrontation occurred near the office of the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM), and later near Imphal Police Station, where DESAM members were protesting and demanding a transparent inquiry into the alleged procurement scam.
DESAM has alleged that a private firm supplied substandard, non-watermarked paper for printing textbooks and answer scripts. The student body has demanded an investigation by the Commissioner of Education and sought blacklisting of the firm concerned.
Tensions escalated after BOSEM authorities and police dispersed a sit-in demonstration staged by DESAM members at the board’s office gate. Following the intervention, protesters marched to Imphal Police Station and offered themselves for arrest.
Police subsequently resorted to baton charges to disperse the gathering, leading to injuries among three volunteers. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Later in the day, DESAM representatives held discussions with the Superintendent of Police (Imphal West), following which the situation was brought under control.
DESAM president O. Romesh said the organisation would intensify its agitation if authorities failed to address concerns regarding the quality of examination and textbook printing materials.