Bhubaneswar: The students’ and youth wings of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday took out a protest march from Master Canteen to Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar, demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in now-postponed Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024.
The written examination for recruitment of sub-inspectors conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) was postponed after Berhampur Police busted a major recruitment racket with the arrest of 114 aspirants and three middlemen from the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on September 30 for allegedly attempting to secure jobs through unfair means. Subsequent investigation revealed the role of an “organised criminal syndicate” to subvert the entire examination process.
The protestors, holding banners, posters and placards, raised slogans against the BJP government during the march and even tried to break barricades, leading to a scuffle with police. Following which, several BJD leaders and workers were detained.
“Under the BJP rule, crimes against women and children have surged, bringing shame to Odisha at national and international levels. Now, serious allegations of selling government jobs have surfaced. In the last 15 months, 16 recruitment exams have been canceled at the last moment, leaving job aspirants frustrated,” BJD leader Pritiranjan Gharai.
He said that the case should be handed over to the central agency to ensure justice for students and youths. “The BJP government has asked the crime branch to investigate the case to protect the big names involved in the scam,” he further alleged.
BJD women’s wing president Snehangini Chhuria alleged involvement of senior government officials in the scam in which each SI post was allegedly sold for Rs 25 lakh. BJD’s youth wing president Chinmaya Sahoo added that since the police department is involved in this organised recruitment scam, only a CBI probe can bring the truth to light.
The party has warned to intensify the agitation if a CBI probe is not ordered.
Responding to the allegations, BJP Yuva Morcha president Abhilash Panda mentioned the 2022 job fraud case in Balasore during the tenure of the previous BJD government. “Three years ago, several job aspirants along with the middlemen were detained. However, Balasore police later let them off. But, this time, police have arrested all candidates involved in the irregularities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has detained another person from Balasore district, suspecting his involvement in the recruitment irregularities.
Besides those 117, one Biswaranjan Behera (29) of Cuttack district was also arrested for his alleged involvement in the scam. He had collected original certificates and blank cheques from aspiring candidates to provide question papers for the examination.