Imagine the excitement and nervousness of students preparing for one of India's toughest medical entrance exams - the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG). Now, picture the shock and disappointment when they learn that the exam paper had been leaked. This is exactly what happened in 2024, and the story behind it reads like a thrilling movie plot!
Let's dive into this fascinating tale of how the NEET-UG 2024 question paper made its way from a secure bank vault to the hands of cheating candidates.
The Heist Begins: Early Morning at the Bank
Our story starts at 7:40 AM on May 5, 2024, in Hazaribagh, Bihar. Two innocent-looking trunks containing the original NEET-UG question papers were collected from an SBI bank vault by Ahsanul Haque. Little did anyone know, this was the beginning of a carefully planned operation.
The School Becomes an Unlikely Crime Scene
By 7:53 AM, the trunks reached Oasis School, one of the exam centers. Here's where things get interesting! The school's principal (Haque) and vice-principal (Imtiaz Alam) were actually in on the plan. They allowed a man named Pankaj Kumar to sneak into the control room through the back door.
Now, imagine being a fly on the wall as Kumar carefully opened one of the trunks, took photos of the question paper, and then expertly resealed everything as if nothing had happened. Talk about nerves of steel!
A Race Against Time: Solving and Sharing
With the stolen questions in hand, Kumar and his team of MBBS students (yes, you read that right!) got to work solving the paper. By 10:50 AM, they had cracked the Biology section and sent it to their partners in crime in Patna.
Over the next hour, Chemistry and Physics solutions followed. It was a frantic rush to get everything ready before the exam started at 2 PM.
The Patna Connection: Spreading the Answers
In Patna, a group led by Baldev Kumar (aka Chintu) received the solved papers. They quickly printed multiple copies and gathered about 30-32 eager students at a place called Learn Play School. Can you imagine the mix of excitement and guilt these students must have felt?
The candidates were given a crash course in memorizing the answers. Some even went to a separate location to study. At 12:30 PM, they were sent off to their exam centers, carefully checked to make sure they weren't carrying any physical evidence.
The Plot Unravels: Police Get a Tip
Just when it seemed like the perfect crime, the police received a tip-off. They sprang into action, checking CCTV footage and eventually arresting key players in the scheme, including Sikander Prasad Yadvendu, who had been recruiting candidates with promises of solved papers for a hefty fee.
The Aftermath: CBI Takes Over
As the scale of the leak became clear, the case was handed over to the CBI. Their investigation uncovered the intricate network involved in the operation, from the school officials in Hazaribagh to the distribution ring in Patna.
Lessons Learned
This case highlights the immense pressure students face and the lengths some will go to for an advantage. It also exposes vulnerabilities in our exam systems that need to be addressed.
For honest students everywhere, remember: your hard work and integrity are far more valuable than any shortcut. Stay focused on your goals, and success will follow the right way!
As for exam authorities, this serves as a wake-up call to strengthen security measures and ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
The NEET-UG paper leak of 2024 will go down in history as a cautionary tale, reminding us all about the importance of fairness and integrity in our education system.
