Matriculation Exams in Bihar Begin on a Peaceful Note

Patna: Mar. 19, 2007

Matriculation exams in Bihar began on Monday under very tight security and barring a few sporadic minor incidents, the first day of the exams, by and large, passed uneventfully though over 400 students across the state were expelled for engaging in unfair means, officials in Patna said.In Danapur, criminals blasted a crude bomb outside the Dhaneshwari Girls School but no one was said to be hurt in the incident.At Patna High School, kidnapping accused Amit Kumar, a.k.a. Sonu appeared in the exam with handcuff in one of his hands and a police officer watching over his shoulder.Flying squads continued to ply from one center to another keeping a close watch on all activities inside as well as outside the test centers.Education Secretary Dr. M. M. Jha personally visited a number of schools including Patna Collegiate, Balika Uchcha Vidyalaya, Miller High School, and Daroga Rai High School to ensure things were under control.Reports of some irregularities have been received from Chhapra and Arwal where the administration is using video cameras to watch the examinees. "If such reports continued to come from Chhapra and Arwal, the exams at these centers will be cancelled," said the exam committee general secretary Vinodanand Jha.