Students suffer as DC Mardan failed to recover laptops, documents went missing from AWKUM quarantine center

MARDAN: Deputy Commissioner Mardan has failed to recover laptops and important documents ofthe students that went missing during the establishment of a quarantine center at the hostel of the Abdul Wali Khan University’s (AWKUM) for COVID-19 suspected patients.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the district administration had established quarantine center in the AWKUM hostel to accommodate the covid-19 patients,the administration staff had gathered the luggage of the students to a few rooms in the hostel to vacate other rooms for the coronavirus patients.

Later, when the students came to collect their luggage, they found their laptops, educational documents and other essential items were missing from their luggage.

Abbas Khan – President of Student Union, Mutahidda Tulba Mahaz – said, they have informed the university administration and Deputy Commissioner Mardan about missing of the students’ laptops and also submitted their demands, adding that DC had ensured them to conduct inquiry into the matter and recover the laptops but so far there is no positive development in the case.

Poor students belonging to the rural areas had purchased these laptops to fulfill their educational requirements and due to the unavailability of laptops, they are unable to attend online classes. Students are suffering due to the negligence of the district and university administration, he added.

Sources said, an inquiry into the matter has been initiated, however, despite the passage of more than two month, the inquiry committee failed to conclude its report.

Lock of a room where the luggage of students were kept was changed when checked few days later, which is not possible without the involvement of the University or administration staff, it is possibility that university staff in involved in the theft of the students’ laptops. sources maintained.

To a question regarding the number of missing laptops, Abbas said, they don’t have exact number of the missing laptops but so far more than 30 students contacted him about their laptop lost. He announced that students will stage protest demonstration outside DC office if their laptops are not recovered till Eid.