West Bengal Teachers Suspended After Assaulting Exam Officer
Incident Overview
Kolkata, Feb 5: The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has taken action against eight individuals, including seven teachers and the headmaster of a school, following an incident where they allegedly assaulted an examination officer. This altercation occurred after the officer discovered a mobile phone within the examination center during the Madhyamik (Secondary) exams at Ajhapur School, located in the Jamalpur region of East Burdwan district.
The suspension of the teachers was enacted after district officials reported the incident. It was revealed that during the secondary examination, a mobile phone rang, prompting the school inspector to inquire about its presence. In response, he was reportedly attacked by several teachers.
According to WBBSE regulations, only specific personnel, including the exam center secretary and designated supervisors, are permitted to use mobile phones within the examination premises. However, during the English exam on Monday, a phone rang, leading to the confrontation.
Prashant Kabiraj, the examination center officer, questioned how the phone entered the venue, which allegedly resulted in an assault by seven or eight teachers. The injured inspector is currently receiving medical care at a hospital. Following the incident, a district monitoring committee visited the school to conduct an investigation and confiscated the mobile device.
Amit Kumar Ghosh, the district coordinator from WBBSE, confirmed that a report from the examination center has been submitted to the board. District School Inspector Debabrata Pal stated that eight individuals, including the headmaster and a clerk, have been suspended.
The incident has left former students and local residents feeling embarrassed. Soumik Dutta, a former student of Ajhapur School, expressed his dismay, stating, "The event in Ajhapur village is extremely shameful. As alumni, we feel humiliated. It is unacceptable for teachers to assault an examination officer. There are also claims that the CCTV footage of the incident has been deleted, which could allow the accused teachers to evade accountability."