Racket behind unfair means in exams: Nitish

Patna, Mar 2 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said that his government would make concerted efforts to 'dismantle' a group of 'racketeers' involved in resorting to unfair means in examinations.

Reacting to killing of one person in police firing near Jagjivan College in Gaya yesterday, Mr Kumar told newspersons that police were forced to fire to protect the girls who had been there for the intermediate examinations.

He said the tough measures taken by his government to ensure fair intermediate examinations were not liked by the racketeers and hence, trouble was being created to derail the process.

Mr Kumar said the government was ready to reply to all queries of the Opposition on the police firing and stated that the latter had 'woken' today while his government had been keeping a watch on the situation since yesterday.

He said compensation of Rs 50,000 would be given to the victim's family while a child injured in the firing was being sent to AIIMS.

He said the Gaya police firing incident was being probed at the highest level, reiterating that stern action would be taken against law breakers irrespective of their stature or position.

Elaborating on the academic issue, Mr Kumar said the government was trying its best to bring the teacher, student ratio to 1:40.

He said an expert committee had been constituted to recommend ways for improving the academic scenario in the state and another to look into functioning of private schools.

UNI DH SG RN 1545