In protest against the state government’s lackadaisical attitude on the recent paper ‘leak’ fiasco of the APPSC Assistant Engineer (AE) examination, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and the All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) jointly called a 12-hour bandh on November 2.

The student unions continued that the bandh call won’t be rolled-back, unless all incumbent members and remaining officials of APPSC tenders resignation.

The Unions have also demanded that the report of the SIC investigation and the three-member inquiry committee should be made public.

Besides, the cabinet has also decided to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by APPSC and APSSB. The CM assured that his “government will never compromise with the career of the youth.”

On the other hand, the APPSC chairman – Nipo Nabam, was on October 14 resigned on moral grounds, amid the ongoing investigation into the paper leak case. The chairman has submitted his resignation letter to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh – Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd).

“In the matter of the unpleasant APPSC fiasco perpetrated by an officer of the Arunachal Public Service Commission on the infamous paper leakage of the Written Examination (Mains) for the post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) of 27 & 28 August 2022, I being the head of the Commission feel it prudent and rationale to put in my papers on the moral ground.” – stated Nabam.

“Hence, my resignation from the post of the Chairman, Arunachal Pradesh Public Service (APPSC) may be accepted forthwith and deemed demitted office with immediate effect,” – he added.

Recently, the state government recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the paper ‘leak’ fiasco of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC)’s assistant engineer examination.

In a letter addressed to the Department of Personnel and Training, the State Vigilance Commissioner – Kaling Tayeng sought necessary action for the transfer of the case to the CBI.

“The case is serious in nature and investigation by local police reveals involvement of state government officials as well as possibility of inter-state ramifications. Therefore, you are requested to initiate necessary action for transfer of the instant case to CBI for further investigation by them,” he said in the letter.

It’s worth noting that a candidate on August 28 lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Itanagar police station, alleging that the question papers for the APPSC examination held on August 26 and 27 were leaked. More than 400 candidates appeared in the examination.

In response to the incident, the SIC Superintendent of Police (SP) – Anant Mittal, asserted that earlier, the government officials – Binam Jomang, Talung Jomang, and Loth Ezing, a civilian, were arrested.

Binam is a junior engineer (contractual) in the Panchayati Raj Department at Lekang in the Namsai district. Talung works as an agriculture field assistant at Pangin in the Siang district. Ezing is a resident of Ruksin in the East Siang district.

The arrests were made, after the case was transferred to the SIC from Itanagar Police on September 27. The Itanagar Police had earlier arrested six people. Those held includes Deputy Secretary (DC) of APPSC and Deputy Controller of Examinations (DCE) Taket Jerang, besides teachers, a candidate, and his father.