The Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has urged Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to order an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities surrounding 160 metric tonnes of non-watermarked paper procured for the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM).
In an open letter to the Chief Minister, DESAM questioned the present whereabouts and status of the paper, which it said was procured during President’s Rule in December 2025 for printing BOSEM answer scripts and textbooks.
The student body alleged that the paper was subsequently kept in storage after being recovered in connection with an alleged theft case and questioned whether the government had properly accounted for the entire stock.
DESAM demanded a clear account of the quantity procured, recovered, utilised and remaining, along with details of its present storage location. It also questioned how 160 metric tonnes of paper could be stored when no such storage facility reportedly exists within the BOSEM office campus.
The organisation said six student bodies had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking a high-level independent inquiry into the alleged supply of sub-standard educational materials during President’s Rule. It said the issue was subsequently followed by protests outside the BOSEM office and New Secretariat.
DESAM also claimed that several of its members faced police action during the protests and alleged that a proposal to constitute a high-level investigation committee had been processed by the Commissioner of Education (School) and forwarded to the Chief Minister but remained pending.
The student body further sought an inquiry into allegations concerning the supply and use of sub-standard paper in RTE-related textbooks and other educational materials.
DESAM demanded that officials found responsible for any irregularities be held accountable and called for the government to make the findings of the inquiry public.
The organisation said the issue was not merely about the alleged disappearance of paper but concerned transparency, financial accountability and the quality of educational materials supplied to students.
