Kashmir examiners use mobile phones to help favourites
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

SRINAGAR: Invigilators in occupied Kashmir have been accused of using mobile phones to help their "blue-eyed" students during annual 10th class examinations, a report said Monday.

"The invigilators sent answers of the questions through short messaging service (SMS) to their favourites," the Greater Kashmir newspaper said.

It said the invigilators, whose duty is to ensure free and fair examination, employed "mobile phones to help their blue-eyed students" in a state-owned high school in northern Baramulla town. This left the... students shocked and helpless," a parent, who was not named, told the daily.

Students tried to protest the irregularity but officials ignored them.

A government official informed that the State Board of School Education was probing the allegation. Thousands of students are presently sitting the annual 10th class examination in Kashmir.

Most of the invigilators are teachers, who provide private tuition to students for a monthly fee. Copying by students and favours by invigilators to their favourites are frequently reported in the local media.

Mobile phones were launched in Kashmir only last year after security agencies gave the go-ahead.●