Bhubaneswar: A day after the high school certificate examiniation was deferred due to theft of question papers from a school; Odisha government on Friday ordered a probe by crime branch police into the episode as Congress demanded Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik`s resignation.

"The chief minister has ordered an inquiry by the crime branch of police into the incident involving theft of HSC Examination question papers," School and Mass Education Minister Pratap Jena informed the state assembly.
At the same time, all necessary steps would be taken to conduct the matriculation examination in a smooth manner under a fresh schedule, the minister said responding to an adjournment motion in the House. Efforts would also be made to declare the results of the HSC examination by the end of June, when it is generally done, he said adding in any case the results would be out latest by the first week of July.
Adequate attention would be given to ensure that students do not face problem in taking admission in institutes of their choice for higher education, Jena said.
Initiating the debate, Anup Sai of Congress held the chief minister responsible for the incident and demanded that Naveen Patnaik step down from office forthwith owning moral responsibility for the plight of lakhs of students. Another Congress legislator Prafulla Majhi also slammed the state government for the miseries caused to about five lakh students due to postponement of HSC examinations.
PTI