Balasore: Scores of job aspirants staged a protest in front of Balasore SP (Superintendent of Police) and Collector’s offices Monday demanding a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities in the examinations conducted by OSSC (Odisha Staff Selection Commission).
The candidates took out a rally holding ‘Say No To Corruption’ banners and placards from Balasore’s Azimabad and staged a road blockade at Station Chhak. They urged the recruiting body to reveal the identities of the 55 aspirants who have received show-cause notices regarding the JE (Civil) paper leak. The candidates also demanded proper action against corrupt officials.
One of the agitating aspirants alleged that despite doing well in various examinations conducted by OSSC, they were not getting selected because of ‘widespread corruption’.
“If this corruption continues, there will be no other choice for us students but to end our lives,” the aspirant said.
Another aspirant, who appeared in OSSC Accountant examination that was held Sunday alleged that the question papers were not sealed before the commencement of the test at his examination centre. He demanded a CBI probe and resignation of OSSC chairman Abhay.
No comments could be obtained either from OSSC or the district administration about allegations levelled by the aspirants at the time of filing this report.
Notably, OSSC July 23 had cancelled the JE (Civil) Main written examination that was held July 16 and rescheduled it to September 3 following the confirmation by Balasore SP about the question paper leak.
Later, OSSC July 29 sent show-cause notices to as many as 55 candidates in connection to the question paper leak. Police said that nearly 17 people including the alleged mastermind, have so far been arrested in connection with the question paper leak. The mastermind of the question paper leak case is a Bihar government employee. The arrested persons are natives of Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Two of the accused persons arrested were teachers serving under Odisha government. The Balasore SP has recommended action against the two teachers for their alleged involvement in the question paper racket.
Amid the row over JE (Civil) paper leak, scores of OSSC ULB Accountant aspirants July 30 staged a protest in front of their examination centre at Bhadrak Autonomous College alleging ‘question paper leak’.
Aspirants claimed that the question papers were ‘leaked’ as they had noticed that the seal of the papers had been broken before the commencement of the examination.
PNN