ITI entrance deferred after paper leaked

The state government ordered a CID probe after question papers of ITI entrance test were leaked resulting in the cancellation of the examination. About 1,33,000 candidates were scheduled to appear in the common entrance examination (CEE) on Sunday. However, reports that question paper of the entrance test have been leaked came to the fore hours before the start of the examination.

As a result, the examination was cancelled and the students were informed that the same has been rescheduled on July 5. Angered by the sudden cancellation of the test, students staged demonstrations outside several examination centres across the state. The students said that they came to know about the cancellation only after reaching the exam centres. They even demanded a clarification from the state education department.

Unsettled by the growing protests by students, the state government ordered a CID probe into the matter and asked the state investigation agency to submit a report as soon as possible. State technical education and training minister Ujjal Biswas, however, smelled a rat and claimed that it was a conspiracy to malign the state government.

“As soon as we got the reports that question papers have been leaked, we ordered cancellation of the examination. It is a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the state government. Those who have leaked the paper are trying to jeopardise the fate of a large number of aspiring students. We have to find out the people who were associated with this act and strong punishment will be meted out to them,” he said.

According to the minister, an emergency meeting has been convened by the state education department on Monday. A three-member committee has been formed to probe into the matter. The students, meanwhile, will be allowed to sit for the July 5 examination with the same admit card.

The cancellation of the examination comes a day after Saumyadip Mahato, a candidate from Jhargram in West Midnapore, downloaded his admit card to find a dog’s photograph on it.