Officials brace to clamp down on ‘nakal mafia’ at Board exams

BAREILLY: More than one lakh students in the district will sit the UP board examinations at 124 centres. The local administration, examination coordinators and education officials held a meeting on Saturday to plan how to keep the ‘nakal mafia’ at bay.
While high school board examinations are scheduled to begin on February 19 and end on March 11, intermediate examinations will end on March 23.
District Inspector of School (DIOS) Ashutosh Bhardwaj said, “A divisional psychology centre will operate a helpline from February 16. Students appearing in the examinations can share their problems and clear any queries by dialling 952812463. The service will be available between 1 pm and 4 pm.”
Special teams will be on vigil at the examination centres, Bhardwaj said. All answer copies will be collected at Government Inter College.
Additional district magistrate (admin) Arun Kumar said, “Local administration will provide all help to education officials. Policemen will be present at examination centres to ensure no one is allowed within a 200-metre circumference of examination centres. Policemen will arrive at all centres within half hour of the commencement of examinations.”
There were reports also that this year, the phone numbers of parents of at least two children who will be taking examinations at the different centres were also being gathered in a bid to rein in the rampant cheating that these examinations are known for.