Imphal, Jan 24 : The mid-term examination for Class XII students resumed today in Little Master Higher Secondary School in Imphal West, where a grenade left behind by a rebel had forced the authorities to postpone the test yesterday.
After the examination got over at noon today, students, teachers and guardians held a sit-in in front of the school to protest against the incident.
A man who identified himself as a member of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) came to the school yesterday with a newspaper-wrapped packet and asked if he could see the principal.
On being informed that the principal was not available, he left the bundle on the verandah and walked away. The packet contained a grenade.
A few teachers were standing on the verandah when the man walked in.
“The militant told us to hand over the packet to the principal,” a teacher said.
Police later said the KCP had demanded Rs 5 lakh from the school about a month ago.
On hearing the news of the grenade recovery, the terrified students ran out their examination halls.
“The incident disturbed me. I am also terrified. I could not concentrate on my studies last night. No one should disrupt examinations like this,” a student said today.
The founder secretary of the school, M. Thoiba, said the school took the decision to resume the examination in the interest of the students.
Frequent threats from militant groups had been preventing him from visiting the school, he said.
Thoiba also appealed to the armed groups not to disturb the academic atmosphere.
“Our school is one of the private schools that have been producing good students. We are also exempting tuition fee for students who pass in the first division. Had there been no such disturbance, we could have produced toppers in the matriculation and Class XII examinations,” the secretary said.