Images of a few sections of the SSC English paper-I question paper went viral on WhatsApp, about 20 minutes before the conclusion of the examination here on Tuesday, prompting the authorities to initiate a thorough probe into the incident.
The incident triggered widespread demand for an inquiry from various student unions, which suspected leakage of the question paper by miscreants through social media. The district authorities, however, ruled out question paper leak.
Pictures of “Section-A and Section-C” of the SSC English question paper-I surfaced on WhatsApp at 11.36 am, less than half an hour before the end of the exam on Tuesday.
The town police swung into action to verify the facts and identify the miscreants behind the incident.
The officials of the school education department had dismissed similar reports of alleged leak of SSC Telugu question paper on Saturday as “rumours.”
However, the officials have acknowledged that part of the SSC English paper that made rounds on WhatsApp on Tuesday tallied with the original question paper.
A delegation of PDSU leaders submitted a memorandum to the school education authorities here on Tuesday afternoon demanding a thorough probe into the incident to bring the culprits to book.
SSC exams are being held in a foolproof manner amid tight security arrangements and there is no need for apprehensions on question paper leak, said Collector D S Lokesh Kumar.
A private TV channel ran a scroll based on a WhatsApp message that circulated at about 11.30 am. The WhatsApp message did not originate from Khammam district, he said calling upon students not to believe any rumours. It is a case of examination malpractice and not a paper leak, the Collector said.
A case under Section 8 of the State Public Examinations (Prevention of Malpractices and Unfair means) Act, 1997, has been registered at the Three town police station. Those responsible for the incident will be dealt with severely as per the law, he said.