Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University VC Rama Shanker Dubey tries to reason with the students. Picture by Amit Kumar

Students of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University held the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor and other officials hostage for 12 hours on Tuesday, alleging irregularities in evaluation of answer scripts.

The officials could only leave the university at 11.30pm after the students received a written assurance from pro-vice-chancellor A.K. Roy for a re-evaluation in the next 25 days.

Around 70 students of the university’s 2012-13 session, including 10 girls, had sat on a dharna at the main entrance of the administrative block in the morning alleging irregularities in the evaluation.

The examination was held last year and the results declared this September.

Dimple, a BSc Part II student of Sundarwati Mahila College, said: “Around 4,200 BSc students and another 250 BBA students appeared in the Part II examination. At least 3,500 students were marked failed with a margin of couple of marks. We have been demanding a re-evaluation because we suspect major irregularities in the checking.”

Vice-chancellor Rama Shanker Dubey told The Telegraph: “We re-tabulated the marks and some students did well. Those who scored bad marks accused us of wrongful evaluation. The university would now republish the results in 25 days after a re-evaluation.”

Rinki, the state president of All India Students’ Association, said: “VC Dubey had constituted a team under dean of students’ welfare Gurudev Poddar to conduct a detailed enquiry into the alleged irregularities. The committee is yet to complete the probe.”