Assam Board Exam 2023: Effigies burnt, education board office gheraoed over science paper leak

GUWAHATI: Student bodies, youth organisations and political parties on Monday staged protests across Assam over the leak of general science question paper, meant for Class 10 state board examination.

Effigies of the state education minister and the chairman of Secondary Education Board, Assam, (SEBA) were burnt by multiple organisation during the day. The agitators also gheraoed the office of SEBA here, demanding action against the erring personnel.

Also Read | Assam HSLC general science cancelled exam will be held on March 30: Ranoj Pegu

The general science examination, which was scheduled to be held Monday, was cancelled by SEBA on Sunday night following reports that question paper has been leaked. A case has been filed and the CID ordered to probe the matter, education minister Ranoj Pegu said. In a notification on Monday, SEBA said that March 30 was the revised date for the exam.

Upset for the leak, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) held demonstrations, seeking immediate arrest of SEBA's controller of examination, Nayan Jyoti Sharma AASU members set fire to effigies of Pegu and SEBA chairman RC Jain at different places.

Its general secretary, Sankarjyoti Baruah, said, "This incident once again proves that SEBA is inefficient. There is a need to reconstruct the board. We also want a CBI inquiry to get to the root of the matter." Members of Students’ Federation of India and Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti also staged separate protests outside SEBA office here.

Also Read | Assam board cancels HSLC exam following cheating in English paper; SEBA yet to announce revised date

Students deserve a corruption-free system. AAP Assam volunteers stage a strong protest outside the SEBA office demanding the resignation of SEBA Chairman and Edu Minister Ranoj Pegu for their failure to prevent paper leaks in exams. pic.twitter.com/NkZ68M3kjt

— AAP Assam (@AAP4Assam) March 13, 2023

The Democratic Youth Federation of India, in a press statement, claimed that Pegu must resign over the "lapse" and punitive action should be initiated against the SEBA chairman. They also questioned the silence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over the fiasco.

Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi sought the resignation of the chief minister and the education minister, asking them to own moral responsibility for the matter. Members of the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party also agitated separately in front of the SEBA office, stressing that fixing of responsibility for the leak was necessary.