FIR delayed: Invigilator attacked after exposing cheats

IMCB teachers claim police is delaying the case for fear of backlash from students.

ISLAMABAD:

A dozen seminary students manhandled a teacher at the Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) after he caught them cheating during a matriculation examination. The college staff filed an application with the I-9 police, who will be investigating the matter.

Muhammad Imran Awan was assigned as an invigilator for the Higher Secondary School Examination. “During the mathematics exam a madrassa students, Muhammadia Sohan, had cheating material with him so I took his paper. I then searched the other madrassa students in the hall and found similar material on them. I received statements of confession from all of them,” said Awan.

Awan said he left the college to withdraw cash from a nearby bank after the exam. “As I was withdrawing Rs12,000, the accused students attacked me and threw a brick at my head after which I fell to the ground,” he said. After beating him repeatedly, the students fled the scene with the cash, Awan claimed. He was later administered first aid at the college.

After reaching the police station, Awan was requested to undergo a medical test. Awan and his colleagues submitted the medical report and the police told them investigations would begin after the completion of internal procedures.

The investigation officer, while speaking to The Express Tribune, said the medical report was incomplete and that an application from IMCB’s controller of examinations was yet to be submitted.

Teacher Yasser Chattha said the police were employing delaying tactics as they feared a reaction from the seminary students. “They never informed us about this application when we first approached them,” he said. The seminary’s principal could not be reached despite several attempts.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2013.