The Crime Branch would probe the question leak that forced cancellation of the written test for recruitment of constables in the Odisha Police earlier on Sunday, Crime Branch ADG Bijay Kumar Sharma said here.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting convened by Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Marik after reports were received from several places about the sale of question papers and even answer sheets of the test that was to have started at 11 am.
Nearly 40,000 candidates had applied for the 1,300-odd constable posts on offer. “The examinations were cancelled after we received reports on leak of questions papers in some districts,” Marik said after the meeting. Odisha Police State Selection Board Chairman Amrit Mohan Prasad said the board has started a process to conduct fresh examinations for recruitment of constables. “The candidates will be informed through announcements in the media about the new date for the test,” he said.
Meanwhile, the last-minute cancellation of the examinations left thousands of candidates, many of whom had travelled long distances to reach one of the 31 venues, fuming. “I am extremely disappointed because I had studied hard for the test,” said a candidate in Rourkela, anger written large over his face. Meanwhile, a team of Crime Branch officials rushed to Kendrapada as it was suspected that the question papers were leaked in the district, sources said.
Kendrapada Superintendent of Police Satish Gajbhiye clarified that the question paper was not leaked in the district as it was sealed when it reached the district. “It might have leaked in other districts,” he said. A total of 811 candidates, including 94 females, had to appear at the test at the Kendrapada Autonomous College centre to fill up 68 posts.