SAMBALPUR: At least 25 students, who were duped of Rs 9.75 lakh by a couple running a fake institution — Jamuna Devi (+2 Arts) Junior College — and failed to appear for the Plus II examination that began on Wednesday, staged a dharna in front of the residence of the Sambalpur district collector demanding immediate action against the culprits on Thursday.
Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Sambalpur, Tapan Mohanty said the couple surrendered before the police on Thursday. “The couple has been detained and further investigation is on,” Mohanty said. Earlier, a police team was sent to Bhubaneswar to trace Tushar and Manjulata.
The students had taken admission in the fake institution that was being run by Tusar Barik and his wife, Manjulata Barik, for more than two years in the city’s Charbati area. Police said they have launched a manhunt to nab the couple.
While Tusar was the principal, Manjulata served as a teacher. They took Rs 36,000 from each student for the admission and an additional sum of Rs 3,000 as the examination fee despite not having the necessary clearance to run a college, police said.
Sahil Sahu, a student who was duped, said, “Though we took admission in the college and paid the examination fees, we could not appear for the examination. They took thousands of rupees for the admission and played with our career. We demand stringent action against the culprits.”
The protesting students, however, withdrew the dharna after district collector Subham Saxena assured them of an impartial inquiry into the incident and subsequent action. He formed a four-member team from among the students and discussed the issue.
The matter came to light after the students lodged a complaint with the Dhanupali police station in the city when they failed to appear for the ongoing plus-two arts exams.
In his complaint, Debendra Sharma of Mudipara said he had taken admission in the institute. “A few days ago, we approached the principal to provide us with the admit cards for the plus two arts exams. He told us we will have to collect the cards from the exam centre at Anchalik College, Sindhol, in Sonepur district. He also said the principal of Anchalik College will hand over the admit cards on the day of the exam,” Debendra added.
On Wednesday, when they went to Anchalik College to collect their admit cards and appear for the exam, they were denied entry. “It was then we realised we were duped,” Debendra said. “When we went to Jamuna Devi College, we found it locked. Neither the principal nor the teacher was to be found,” he added. With their options limited, the students then approached police.
Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Sambalpur, Tapan Mohanty said the couple surrendered before the police on Thursday. “The couple has been detained and further investigation is on,” Mohanty said. Earlier, a police team was sent to Bhubaneswar to trace Tushar and Manjulata.
The students had taken admission in the fake institution that was being run by Tusar Barik and his wife, Manjulata Barik, for more than two years in the city’s Charbati area. Police said they have launched a manhunt to nab the couple.
While Tusar was the principal, Manjulata served as a teacher. They took Rs 36,000 from each student for the admission and an additional sum of Rs 3,000 as the examination fee despite not having the necessary clearance to run a college, police said.
Sahil Sahu, a student who was duped, said, “Though we took admission in the college and paid the examination fees, we could not appear for the examination. They took thousands of rupees for the admission and played with our career. We demand stringent action against the culprits.”
The protesting students, however, withdrew the dharna after district collector Subham Saxena assured them of an impartial inquiry into the incident and subsequent action. He formed a four-member team from among the students and discussed the issue.
The matter came to light after the students lodged a complaint with the Dhanupali police station in the city when they failed to appear for the ongoing plus-two arts exams.
In his complaint, Debendra Sharma of Mudipara said he had taken admission in the institute. “A few days ago, we approached the principal to provide us with the admit cards for the plus two arts exams. He told us we will have to collect the cards from the exam centre at Anchalik College, Sindhol, in Sonepur district. He also said the principal of Anchalik College will hand over the admit cards on the day of the exam,” Debendra added.
On Wednesday, when they went to Anchalik College to collect their admit cards and appear for the exam, they were denied entry. “It was then we realised we were duped,” Debendra said. “When we went to Jamuna Devi College, we found it locked. Neither the principal nor the teacher was to be found,” he added. With their options limited, the students then approached police.
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