Vandalism Control in Cooch Behar Medical Campus

The second-year exams at MJN Medical College, Cooch Behar, started on January 6. On the first day, the college authorities took strict action against five students caught trying to cheat. To prevent further incidents, the college implemented stronger measures against cheating.

Exam Cheating and Vandalism Incident at Cooch Behar Medical College

“However, the week was also marked by vandalism. For the second time this week, a toilet near the examination hall was vandalized. The female toilet was found damaged between Thursday night and Friday morning. College authorities suspect this was done in retaliation for the stricter anti-cheating measures”.

Steps Taken by the College
Principal Nirmalkumar Mondal has lodged a complaint with the District Superintendent of Police, naming several suspected students and providing CCTV footage for investigation. Superintendent of Police Dutiman Bhattacharya confirmed that the matter is being investigated.

Background Issues
The college has faced previous allegations of cheating and grade manipulation, reportedly involving the “North Bengal Lobby,” an influential group in state medical education. After the RG Kar Medical College controversy, protests erupted against these practices. A committee was formed to investigate the claims, but no report has been submitted even after three months.

Tighter Examination Security
To ensure fairness, the college has strengthened its exam security. Eight CCTV cameras have been installed in the examination hall, with live monitoring by Health University officials. Students are searched before entering and after exiting the hall, including after using the toilet.

Student Reactions
Some students believe the vandalism may have been carried out by senior students unrelated to the current exams. They urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the real culprits and take appropriate action.

This incident highlights the challenges faced by the college in maintaining integrity during exams and controlling acts of vandalism on campus. With stricter security measures and ongoing investigations, the college aims to create a fair and secure academic environment

The second-year exams at Cooch Behar Medical College started on January 6. On the first day, strict actions were taken against five students for attempting to cheat. Four students had their answer scripts replaced, and one student’s exam was canceled.

Later that night, the toilet near the examination hall was vandalized. On the second day of exams, two more students were caught cheating, and their answer scripts were replaced. By Thursday, a large amount of fake materials used for cheating was found in the toilet, and another act of vandalism occurred in the same area.

Suspected Involvement in Vandalism
College authorities suspect that the vandalism might be linked to students associated with the “North Bengal Lobby,” a powerful group in the state’s medical education system. Principal Nirmalkumar Mondal stated that the strict measures taken to stop cheating could have provoked the vandalism. He added that none of the students currently taking the exams are suspected of involvement and suggested that some senior students might be responsible.

Student Opinions
Third-year students voiced their concerns, saying it is unfair to blame a few individuals without solid proof. They urged the college to conduct a proper investigation to identify the real culprits and take necessary action.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by the college in ensuring fair examinations while dealing with issues like cheating and vandalism. The authorities remain committed to maintaining academic integrity and taking necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future.