Consequently, the department's academic and research activities, including implementation of World Bank-sponsored projects, are in the doldrums.

A string of incidents since last week has shocked the authorities. To begin with, the office of the departmental head was kept locked, allegedly to prevent the entry of the new head. What's worse, the keys could not be found.

The same evening, the lock was found broken. And important files as well as a computer with confidential records of ongoing World Bank projects had disappeared.

Concerned over the unlikely developments, the authorities have started a probe.

The trouble, officials say, began a week ago, soon after university registrar Ujjwal Basu issued a letter to a senior teacher on March 30, asking him to take over as new departmental head from April 1. The term of of the outgoing incumbent was to expire on March 31.