Bengal ITI entrance test cancelled after paper leak

Kolkata, June 28: The entrance test for the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in West Bengal, scheduled on Sunday, was cancelled after reports that examination papers were leaked in several districts, a state minister said.

The cancellation comes a day after Saumyadip Mahato, a candidate from Jhargram in West Midnapore, downloaded his admit card only to find a dog's photograph on it.

"As soon as we got the news that the question papers have been leaked in several districts, we ordered the cancellation of the exam," West Bengal Technical Education and Training Minister Ujjal Biswas said.

While Biswas claimed that the candidates were informed through SMSes about the cancellation of the exam as early as 8 a.m. on Sunday, they candidates staged demonstrations at many centres across the state, saying that they came to know about the cancellation only after reaching the exam centres.

The exam will now be held on July 5.

Biswas said a probe has been ordered into the paper leak.

IANS