A female candidate of ADRE 2024 for Grade III alleged about inappropriate physical checking of body at an exam center. The incident took place at Swahid Smriti Senior Secondary School in Belsor, Nalbari district.
The female candidate identified as Nabanita Sarma. She took her Facebook Profile and share a video of the traumatic experience.
She stated in the video, “While I entered the premises, there was arrangement for checking, there were two women who were given the duty for checking all the women candidates. But the way they touched my body was not appropriate and was not acceptable. They even checked out under garments during checking. I wore kurti and leggings. But they put their hand inside our under garments to check which is very disgraceful. It was not only me, there were few woman candidates who wore Mekhela Sador, even they were checked in that same pattern. Though there were only women no men, but the fact is how did they get the right to touch our body. Moreover, there was no cloth cover where the women were being checked. And checking in such pattern is also unhygienic.”
The candidate also said that she asked other candidate about this type of checking at other center of ADRE exam and found that none of them had done the checks in the same way.
She also stated, “My friends who also appeared for today’s Grade III examinations told me that the checking was done in a normal way. I appeared in several competitive examinations earlier, but I never witnessed such kind of pathetic approach to check a candidate. For whatever reason, all the candidates in that centre felt uncomfortable for some hours and we were mentally harassed for a while.”
DGP GP Singh has ordered an inquiry about the allegation
He stated, “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 Superintendent of Police of Nalbari are all women, factual position would be known in quick time for further action.”
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma instructed DGP GP Singh instructed to investigate the incident of inappropriate checking of ADRE Exam
He stated into social media, “My instruction to the police on the Nalbari incident – I spoke with the DGP, Assam, @gpsinghips and instructed him to investigate the incident where a girl student has alleged that a lady constable searched her private parts before she entered the examination hall. For me, the dignity and respect of our mothers and sisters are of utmost importance *and non-negotiable*. The DGP also informed me of another incident in North Lakhimpur, where cheating material was recovered from the inner garment of a girl student on the same day. We have two crucial tasks before us:
1. To conduct the ADRE examination with the highest level of integrity and transparency. We owe this to *the entire* younger generation of ours, and it cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
2. At the same time, we must ensure the decency and dignity of our female candidates are upheld at all times. Therefore, a proper SOP should be developed, taking into account the relevant judgments from the Hon’ble Courts and guidelines from the Women’s Commission regarding the conduct of searches involving women, and this must be circulated before the next round of examinations.”
