ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Nov 10:  High drama took place as hundreds of aspirants taking the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined Competitive Examination (Mains) today staged a dharma and boycotted the Mains exam in front of the examination center at King Cup Public school demanding postponement of the exams. Police used water cannons and baton charge to contain the agitators. Many of them were arrested and later let off.
The agitation was in response to the notification issued by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission on Friday night to go ahead with its schedule to conduct Mains examination from November 10 to 20 after the Itanagar permanent bench of the Gauhati High Court vacated the stay order on November 8.
Speaking to reporters, an aspirant informed that the verdict is not final and yet to be squashed. ‘We are only demanding postponement of the date so that every qualified aspirant can participate in the examination. We were in dilemma due to the court cases and only in the evening of November 9 were informed that the examination will be held as per schedule,’ he said.
However, not all aspirants are on the same page. A candidate who arrived from out station to give the examination says, ‘It is unfair that many of us who wanted to sit for the examination were forced not to do so by fellow candidates. We have also prepared for the exam under similar uncertain conditions and want to take the examination as we have sacrificed much of our time and energy.'
‘More than 80 per cent aspirants were peacefully giving their examination in APPSC Examination Hall (campus) while there were a few aspirants agitating in one of the Examination Centers. However we took  proper measures so that the examination was held peacefully,’ informed Magistrate Hengo Basar.
Superintendent of Police, Capital Complex, M Harsha Vardhan said that Police used water cannons to disperse agitators with no intent to hurt anyone. We were providing security to those aspirants who were writing  the examination, he added.
When asked about any arrests, the SP said that no one was arrested but following procedure and to control the situation, agitators were taken to the Police station.
Meanwhile, despite protests and boycott, scores of aspirants sat for the examination at the Commission campus under proper security.
Chairman, APPSC, Nabum Nipo while speaking to this daily said 'despite boycott we  have conducted the  examination. However, for further course of action only the Secretary can speak  on the issue.'
Efforts to reach out to the  Secretary was unsuccessful.
At least 899 candidates appeared  in the examination (figure of morning session

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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