Sub Inspectors posts in Assam Police; Question papers leaked, written test cancelled

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The written test for recruitment of 597 Sub Inspectors (SIs) in the Assam Police was cancelled on Sunday minutes after it had commenced across the State, leaving thousands of meritorious and physically fit students in the lurch. They have expressed anger and anguish over the incident.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has instructed the DGP (Director General of Police) to apprehend the culprits. "The CM instructed the DGP to identify the nexus, which conspired to spoil the recruitment process, and give strict punishment as soon as possible," said a statement from the Chief Minister Office said.

The DGP has directed the IG (Inspector General) of the Special Branch, Hiren Chandra Nath, to carry out a separate probe into the matter.

The sudden decision to cancel the written test was taken after the question paper for the test, to be conducted by the State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB), was leaked in the social media in the morning. The test was scheduled at 154 examination centres across the State from Sunday noon.

SLPRB Chairman Pradeep Kumar told The Sentinel that he had a received a call on his mobile number at 11:45 on Sunday morning. "The caller told me that he had received a WhatsApp message at 11:15 on Sunday morning. The message showed the question paper. The caller also provided me the mobile number from where he had received the WhatsApp message and forwarded the message to me.

"The message contained one set of the question papers. I fail to understand as to how it could be leaked at 11:15 am when these were completely under the police custody in different districts till 11:30 am.

"We had worked out three 'iron layers' to maintain the safety and sanctity of the question papers. Till Saturday morning, the questions papers were kept at the 10^th APBn campus under full security arrangements. The question papers were transported with full escorts to the SP (Superintendents of Police) offices during the second half of Saturday."

Several SPs informed The Sentinel that the examination, which had commenced at noon, was stopped immediately following instructions from the SLPRB.

Kumar also said that the Chief Minister and the DGP were immediately informed about the question-paper leak. The written test was accordingly cancelled.

"There were around 66,000 candidates for the 597 SI posts. Within a month, we will announce new dates for the written examination," the SLPRB Chairman said. He also informed that the SLPRB had immediately filed an FIR; and that the CID has been already handed over the case.

A statement from the DGP's office stated, "A new date for the examination will be announced within a month."

Reacting to the leaking of question papers, the disappointed candidates have demanded a high-level impartial inquiry into the issue.

One among them said, "We have been waiting for this examination since 2018. In the last two years, I prepared hard to make myself fit for recruitment as SI. If an examination under the Assam Police is not safe, how will you ensure safety and sanctity of other examinations? An inquiry must be held to find out the culprits at the earliest."

Another candidate complained, "There were also errors in the question paper."

A female candidate state, "I have serious doubts as to whether the authorities were at all sincere in conducting the test."

Also Watch: Smuggled Timber seized in West Karbi Anglong