The Patna district administration has recommended filing a murder case against people trying to disrupt the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam. The incident took place during the BPSC exam on December 13 when a duty officer, Ram Ikbal Singh, suffered a fatal heart attack. Along with the report, a report from Patna District Magistrate to BPSC was released to the media with recommendations to initiate legal action.
The tragic event took place at the Bapu Examination Complex in Patna's Kumhrar area, one of over 900 centers where the exam was conducted. Around 500,000 candidates took part in the selection test. According to the inquiry report submitted by an officer of the rank of sub-divisional magistrate, some anti-social elements masquerading as candidates tried to create unrest with an intention to cancel the exam.
Coaching institutes under suspicion
The report also highlighted the need to investigate the role of several coaching institutes in the incident. On the day of the exam, more than 5,000 candidates were present at the Bapu Examination Complex. Outside the exam hall, they started claiming that the question paper was leaked. A large crowd gathered outside the center and police had to intervene to bring the situation under control. Patna District Magistrate Chandra Shekhar Singh arrived at the scene and a video of him slapping a protester went viral on social media. During the chaos, officer Ram Ikbal Singh suffered a heart attack and the report suggested that heavy traffic near the exam center delayed his timely transfer to a hospital and led to his death.
Recommendations for legal action
The report said: “Strict disciplinary and legal action should be taken against the candidates and other anti-social elements involved in the protests and a murder case should be lodged against them.” Chandra Shekhar Singh confirmed on Sunday that the District administration is checking CCTV footage from Bapu Investigation Complex. Under the supervision of Patna senior police commissioner, two teams were formed to identify 10 to 12 anti-social elements involved in the riots.
The report further reveals that these people confiscated question papers from other candidates, gave the documents to outsiders during protests at the exam center and even held the exam administrator hostage.
Prison for troublemakers
Authorities said that if these people were identified as candidates, the district administration would request the BPSC to exclude them from the exam in the future and recommend that they be sent to prison. The district police have already lodged two FIRs in connection with the incident. The official clarified that 5,671 candidates were able to clear their exams at the same center without any problem.
The district administration suspects that some candidates boycotted the exam and spread rumors to create unrest and get the exam canceled. It appears that these candidates deliberately caused unrest by claiming that the question papers were distributed late. The district magistrate also stated that the role of some coaching institutes in the incident was being investigated.
Ongoing investigation
Authorities are working to identify the perpetrators and further legal action is expected based on findings from the ongoing investigation. The Patna administration is committed to ensuring accountability and preventing such glitches in future exams.
