Guwahati: Now, first page of chemistry paper leaks on WhatsApp

GUWAHATI: The first page of the chemistry paper of the Class XII exam went viral on WhatsApp before the commencement of the exam on Saturday, exposing the loopholes in the system once again.
Though the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) has clarified that no questions were printed on the first page, the council has started a probe into the incident through its cyber cell headed by retired IPS officer Ezaz Hazarika. The AHSEC said it firmly believes that there was no leakage of any question.
"We want to probe deep into the matter. But the page that was circulated through WhatsApp around 8:30 am is the first page of the chemistry paper which contained question wise distribution of marks and instructions to candidates. However, the AHSEC wants to probe into the incident thoroughly and expose the racket involved in maligning the image of the council," said AHSEC controller of examinations Pankaj Borthakur.
He added that the first page of the question paper remains transparent in the three-layered question paper bundle so that exam officials do not take any bundle of other question paper to the centres.
Sources in the council said sealed packets sent for the examination centres way back in January were in the safe custody of nearby police stations since then. They added that the first page photo of the chemistry paper must have been clicked when one of the question paper bundles was being taken to an examination centre.
In the meanwhile, as many as 27 candidates were expelled from various examination centres on Saturday for adopting unfair means during chemistry, political science and business studies papers. One supervising officer was assaulted when he went to foil malpractice in the Chargula Higher Secondary School centre in Karimganj district of the Barak Valley on Saturday. His vehicle was damaged by a mob as he went to the school to expel some of the candidates who indulged in malpractice. AHSEC officials said the council can terminate the exam centre next year.
Twenty-five students were expelled on the first day of Class XII exam that on Wednesday. All the incidents were reported from Dhubri district in western Assam. While six of the students were taking the exam at Chapar Higher Secondary School, the examination centre for 11 others was Salmara Higher Secondary School. Eight others were expelled from the Rangamati College centre.
Nabajit Pathak, the circle officer of Chapar Revenue Circle who expelled the students, told TOI, "The students were bringing books and notes and were trying to copy from them. First we got information regarding cheating in the examination centre of Chapar Higher Secondary School and expelled six students. Then we received information about 11 others adopting foul means and a similar action was taken."
A total of 2,34,809 students are appearing the Higher Secondary Exam conducted by AHSEC in 772 centres across the state.