Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 16: The state assembly was stalled Monday amid pandemonium and adjournments with opposition Congress demanding a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on cancellation of the written test for constable recruitment following reports about question paper leak.
The issue was raised as soon as the house assembled for the day. Congress members rushed to the well seeking a statement from the Chief Minister who is also the minister in charge of home department.
“Though Patnaik was present when the Opposition demanded a statement, the Chief Minister chose to run away from the house instead of trying to resolve the issue,” Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said when the house reassembled at 12.30 pm.
Rejecting the state government’s announcement of a crime branch probe into the question paper leak, Mishra asked, “How can the police probe into misdeeds of other police officers.” Mishra demanded an impartial investigation into the matter as it is linked with the vexed unemployment issue.
He alleged that some high ranking police officers were part of the racket that sold question papers in the market for Rs 1.60 lakh per set of questions with answer sheet.
Justifying his claim that police cannot investigate into a crime committed by other police persons, Mishra cited an incident in Bolangir where an SDPO rank officer allegedly killed a youth. “I gave in writing to the DGP regarding the incident in Bolangir. But, no action has been taken so far, neither the police have rejected the allegation,” he said.
Speaker Niranjan Pujari, in his ruling, asked the state government to place a statement before the house by afternoon.
Meanwhile, the government has ordered a crime branch probe into the question leak. “Two teams have been formed to probe in Kendrapara and Cuttack-Bhubaneswar area,” said crime branch additional DG B K Sharma outside the assembly.
A fresh examination would be conducted for recruitment of police constables, said Amrit Mohan Prasad, chairman of state selection board of Orissa Police. Continued on P-3
