Shortage of question paper delays P&RD exam in Rangia centre

A Correspondent

RANGIA, May 20: Tension prevails following a mass protest by the candidates appearing in the Combined Competitive Examination for various posts under Panchayat and Rural Development (P&RD) department of the Assam government, which took place at Rangia HS School on Sunday afternoon.

Due to shortage of question papers, the exam was reportedly delayed, subsequently annoying nearly 608 candidates. As per reports, initially only 248 question papers against the total list of candidates were found at the centre. Angry candidates came outside and started protesting, demanding that the exam be postponed. The situation turned even worse when police and paramilitary forces had to be deployed to control the situation. Later, Kamrup Deputy Commissioner Kamal Baishya and other senior government officials arrived at the site and intervened in the matter. Finally the district administration decided to conduct the exam 2.45 hours late than its scheduled time.

After the protest, nearly 273 aggrieved candidates left the exam centre and went home without appearing for the exam while 335 candidates only appeared. An outsourced private firm Blue Electronics Pvt. Ltd was entrusted with the responsibility of question paper supply at different centres at Rangia but due to its alleged negligence in timely supply of required question papers at the mentioned exam centre, the unpleasant situation arose.

Meanwhile, at all other exam centres of Rangia like Rangia Girls’ HS School, Rangia Madrassa HS School and others, the exam was conducted smoothly without any anomaly. It is also alleged that the question paper was leaked before the examination.