TOBA TEK SINGH, Nov 3: Hundreds of the Government Municipal Degree College and private students have been deprived of the computer training facility for the last one week following the closure of the computer laboratory by its contractor.

The Education Department had signed an agreement with a private firm of Jhang — Pioneers Computers — to arrange a computer laboratory and centre on the college premises, but the firm headed by Ghulam Haider Malik failed to fulfil the requirements of hundreds of students.

It created an unrest among the students, and they lodged complaints with the principal who sent notices to the contractor besides apprising the Punjab Information Technology Board chairman of the matter, but the contractor could not make the computer centre properly functional.

On Oct 29, the students attacked the centre and its laboratory and took away some 12 computers. Since then, the centre is closed.

When contacted, vice-principal Amanullah Khan said the contractor had failed to provide proper facilities to the students due to which principal Khalilur Rahman sent him notices. He alleged the contractor also used to tamper with the electricity meter besides delaying the payment of electricity bill.

He said the matter was brought to the notice of district Nazim Mohammed Ashfaq who sent DEO (colleges) Nazir Ahmad who witnessed the mismanagement by the computer centre contractor.

The principal said talks were also in progress with the students for the return of the computers.