Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) detained three persons, including one teacher for allegedly circulating question papers of the ongoing Class XII examination of Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COSHEM) at Kamakhya Pemton (KP) College, Hiyangthang, Imphal West examination centre on Tuesday.

The three persons are identified as Mutum Phibou and Buyamayum Sahish Khan from Oinam Sawombung, Imphal West, and Yumkhaibam Amar, a teacher of ‘Quest Family Girls’ hostel, Bengoon, Imphal West.

DESAM secretary general Mayengbam Somorjit Luwang told the media at its head office located at Kwakeithel, Imphal West that DESAM received some complaints from guardians who reported that question papers of the ongoing Class XII examination are being circulated through WhatsApp.

Based on the complaints, a DESAM team started monitoring the surroundings of KP College, Hiyangthang, he said. Phibou and Sahish were detained by the team from the surroundings of KP college examination centre, he added.

During the examination, materials for cheating were detected from their vehicle (Activa), he said. When the team examined the mobile phone of the two persons, the question paper for the English subject was found in WhatsApp chat history, he said.  

The question paper was found circulated at 9.01 am when the examination of Class XII was scheduled to commence from 10 am, said Somorjit.

The said question paper was found circulated by Amar in a WhatsApp group “QUEST Family Girls’ 21-22”.

In the chat history, answers for the respective questions were also found circulated in the same social media group by Amar at 9.51 am of the same day, he added.

Later, one Washima Shah circulated the question paper of MIL paper at 9.14 am and the same question was also uploaded by Amar at 9.35 am, he continued.  

The answers of the respective questions were also found uploaded by Amar at 10.35 am, said Somorjit.

He further said that for Physics, similar question papers and answers were also found circulated on the same social media group ahead of the commencement of the examination.

He said the circulated answers were also found shared to the students in the examination hall by the supporters who are outside the examination hall.

The three persons along with their belongings will be handed over to the police station concerned for necessary legal action, he added.