Bengaluru: The unthinkable happened on Thursday. To the horror of students appearing for the II PU Chemistry re-examination, the paper was leaked once again on WhatsApp, forcing the board to put it off for the second time in a matter of days, to April 12.
As angry students took to the streets in protest, heads rolled in the PU department, with the state government suspending as many as 40 officials for this second leak of the paper in barely 10 days. The officers suspended included joint director, KN Ranganath, deputy director, Ravindra R Konnur and four assistant directors. PU board director, Pallavi Akurati, who survived the first Chemistry question paper leak of March 22, is likely to be transferred soon after the PU final examinations are completed, according to sources.
The re-examination will be conducted under the supervision of three senior IAS officers led by state transport commissioner, Ramegowda.
Students on their way to write the re- exam, which became necessary following the last question paper leak, also via WhatsApp, were shocked to hear it had been leaked again and there would be no examination that day. In no time protests erupted across the state. In Bengaluru, students protested outside the PU board office in Malleswaram, pelting stones and attempting to barge in, supported by various organisations like the ABVP, AAP, Jaya Karnataka and NSUI.
Things took a dramatic turn when a JDS activist, Nagesh climbed up thebuilding and threatened to jump off it in support of the students. More panic ensued as a student, Harshita, of Soundarya College , Peenya, fell unconscious during the protest.
As students attempted to block the road, the police did a mild lathicharge, finally bringing the situation under control by 3 pm. Students in Mysuru, Hubballi, Tumakuru and other cities too broke out in spontaneous protest as news of the second paper leak spread. The CID investigating the last Chemistry question paper leak, will also look into Thursday's incident and has formed 10 teams to nab the culprits, according to sources.
