The BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh has decided to ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the question paper leak in a recruitment examination conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC).
The police in State capital Itanagar have so far arrested six people for allegedly leaking the question paper of the examination for the post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) conducted by the APPSC on August 26 and 27.
“The paper leak will be investigated thoroughly. We have thus decided to hand over the case to the CBI to ensure free, fair, impartial and swift investigation,” Home Minister and government spokesperson Bamang Felix told journalists.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the question paper leak has created a negative impression about the State government among job aspirants and people beyond the State. The government would try to undo the damage done to its image, he said.
“The APPSC is considered to be the highest recruitment institution of the State and such corruption in the recruitment process will not be tolerated,” he told journalists at an event in Ziro, the headquarters of Lower Subansiri district on Monday.
Opposition parties and NGOs in the State have asked the government to first take action against the APPSC Chairperson and members of its board in order to ensure an impartial probe.
They included the Congress party, the People’s Party of Arunachal, the State unit of Anti-Corruption Foundation, and the Student Movement of Arunachal.
Some of the NGOs also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding the suspension of the APPSC Chairperson and the board members till the investigation into the paper leak case is completed and a charge-sheet is filed before the competent court.
They gave the government 10 days’ time to act or face a stir to be launched “in the greater interest of the unemployed youths of the State”.
Of the six arrested in the paper leak case, Taket Jerang is the Deputy Secretary of the APPSC. He was the Controller of the examination for recruiting Assistant Engineers (Civil).
