APPSC Exam: Three more arrested in Arunachal paper leak case

ITNAGAR: Three more people were arrested in connection with the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) Assistant Engineer (Civil) examination question paper leak, taking the total number of apprehensions in the case to nine.

The Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of Arunachal Pradesh Police arrested government officials Binam Jomang and Talung Jomang, and Loth Ezing, a civilian, SIC Superintendent of Police (SP) Anant Mittal said.

Binam is serving as a junior engineer (contractual) in the Panchayati Raj Department at Lekang in Namsai district, while Talung is an agriculture field assistant at Pangin in Siang district. Ezing is a resident of Ruksin in East Siang district.

The arrests were made after the case was transferred to the SIC from Itanagar Police on September 27. With the fresh arrests, the total number of apprehensions in the case has risen to nine.

The Itanagar Police had earlier arrested six people in connection with the case. Those arrested included APPSC Deputy Secretary and Deputy Controller of Examinations Taket Jerang, besides teachers, a candidate and his father and a courier runner.

"The investigation is underway and all facets of the case are being probed in detail. Also, all legal formalities are being maintained," Mittal said, adding that the SIC is committed to ensuring justice to the aggrieved aspirants.

The case came to light after Gyamar Padung, a candidate for the APPSC examination, had on August 29 filed a complaint with the Itanagar Police Station alleging that he suspected that the AE (Civil) examination paper had been leaked.

A case was registered and the arrests were made. The Arunachal Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the case. The APPSC has already placed Jerang under suspension and asked him to go on compulsory retirement.