strike33 Bihar: Retest Held For 12,000 BPSC Candidates In Patna After Paper Leak Allegations

BPSC 70th Prelims re-exam Photo: PTI BPSC 70th Prelims re-exam Photo: PTI

The retest for Bihar Public Service Commission exam took place in Patna on Saturday fora select group of candidates after controversy over the allegations of paper leak during its original date led to political upheaval and student protests in Bihar.

The retest was held were 12,000 candidates across 22 centres in Patna from 12 pm till 2 pm.

The district authorities had imposed strict guidelines around these exam centres for no further breach of security.

According to the aspirants, the question paper was leaked during 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) held on December 13 at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre in Patna. The Bihar Public Service Commission has denied the allegations but a fresh test was ordered for 12,000 candidates who appeared for the test in that particular centre.

What Did Police Say?

District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh spoke to the media regarding the details of the re-exam held and security around it, "The re-exam took place at 22 centres in Patna. Out of a total 12,000 candidates, around 8,200 aspirants had downloaded their admit cards. The authorities concerned will later provide the exact number of students who appeared for the retest."

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"The retest was peacefully held at all the centres, where adequate arrangements were put in place. The district administration had issued strict guidelines. Unauthorised entry, gatherings and protests within a 200-metre radius of the centres were prohibited," he added.

The clamour for cancellation of the Combined Competitive Examination held on December 13 by the BPSC has gained strength, as agitating aspirants found support from various political parties, Independent MP Pappu Yadav and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor.

Yadav had on Friday led his supporters in blocking rail and road traffic in several areas of Patna as well as other parts of the state.

Several MLAs and leaders of the Congress, CPI-ML (Liberation), CPI(M) and CPI also lent support to the protesting candidates, who have been demanding that fresh exams be held for all the five lakh candidates, who had appeared at more than 900 centres across the state, to ensure a "level-playing field".

Kishor continued with his fast-unto-death that he began on Thursday to press for the demand for cancellation of the December 13 exam.

“I know that the re-exam of the Bapu Pariksha Parishar centre, where around 15,000 students had appeared, is taking place in Patna today even after our repeated requests for cancellation of the entire exam. What will happen to 3.5 lakh aspirants who have been demanding a retest? I am sure that the protests will intensify further after today’s exam,” the former political strategist said.

“The government will listen to us. The administration (officials) came to us on Friday and requested us to discontinue our strike. Everybody knows about the rampant corruption in the recruitment process in the state. Corrupt officers and the mafia are charging Rs 30 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore for different posts in the state and in the BPSC,” Kishor claimed.

The district administration had earlier termed Kishor's fast-unto-death at Gandhi Maidan "illegal" as it is not the designated site for holding such protests.

“We are keeping a close watch on the developments ... We will decide our further course of action after completion of today’s examstrike33,” the DM added.