GUWAHATI: Assam Director General of Police (DGP) G P Singh has initiated an investigation into allegations of inappropriate physical checks conducted on female candidates during the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) for Grade III posts at an examination center in Nalbari district.
The incident, which occurred at Swahid Smriti Senior Secondary School in Belsor, has ignited public outrage after a candidate, Nabanita Sarma, shared her ordeal on social media.
In her Facebook post, the candidate condemned the physical examination process, describing it as “disgraceful and pathetic.”
She claimed that women personnel at the centre conducted intrusive body searches, including checking undergarments without any privacy cover.
“They put their hands inside our undergarments to check, which is disgraceful. Though only women were present, the way we were touched was unacceptable,” Sarma wrote, adding that such checks were neither necessary nor performed at other exam centres across the state.
“I have taken several competitive exams, but this was the first time I experienced such an inappropriate approach. Many women candidates at the centre felt mentally harassed,” Sarma said.
In response to the allegations, DGP G P Singh ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter.”
“Reference complaint of overreach by women police personnel during checking of women candidates at Nalbari during recruitment examination – Range DIG has been directed to enquire into the matter. Since the Range DIG Central Western Range and the District Commissioner and District Superintendent of Police of Nalbari are all women, the factual position would be known in quick time for further action,” Singh stated on X.
Reference complaint of overreach by women police personnel during checking of women candidates at Nalbari during recruitment examination – Range DIG has been directed to enquire into the matter. Since Range DIG Central Western Range and the District Commissioner and District…
— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) September 15, 2024
She has subsequently urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take swift action and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in future examinations.
Meanwhile, Assam CM said he instructed DGP GP Singh to investigate the incident. “For me, the dignity and respect of our mothers and sisters are of utmost importance and non-negotiable,” CM Sarma said.
The DGP also disclosed a separate case in North Lakhimpur, where cheating materials were discovered concealed within a female candidate’s undergarments during the checking process.
“It may also be mentioned that an FIR has been registered at North Lakhimpur PS today where cheating material papers were seized hidden inside a woman candidate’s undergarments,” Singh added.
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The recruitment examination, administered by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) on behalf of the State Level Recruitment Commission (SLRC), saw 11,23,204 candidates take the test in 2,305 centres across the state.
