Thirty-one examinees were expelled across the state for using unfair means on Wednesday, the first day of the higher secondary examinations, conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council.

Of these, 14 were expelled, while a principal-cum-centre in-charge was arrested, in lower Assam’s Dhubri district.

Dhubri district exam observer A. Ali Ahmed said, “The students were expelled as soon as they were found cheating, while principal-cum-examination centre in-charge of Alomganj Rangamati Junior College, Sah Jamal Seikh, was arrested for failing to perform his duty.”

The centres that witnessed illegal activities are Alomganj Rangamati Junior College, where eight students were expelled and Chapar HS School, where six were expelled, according to Ahmed.

Additional deputy commissioner Animesh Talukdar said the district administration has again instructed all invigilators and magistrates on duty to ensure that no unfair means are used during the exam.

On February 10, during the first day of class X board exams, conducted by Board of Secondary Education, Assam, 21 students were expelled in Dhubri district for using unfair means. An Arabic teacher, Joynal Abedin of Chirakhowa High School, was also arrested on the day for allowing candidates to adopt unfair means.

In Hailakandi district, eight candidates were expelled for cheating on Wednesday. Inspector of schools Rajiv Kumar Jha said two are from Algapur Public HS School, four from SS College and one each from Government VMHS School and Public HS School.

Examination controller Pankaj Borthakur said the students will not be allowed to sit for the remaining exams this year. “We have a committee which will look into the matter. If the committee recommends, a ban on appearing for the examination may be extended for another year for some students,” he said.

Borthakur said the council has taken several precautionary measures to conduct a free and fair exam.

Altogether 2,34,809 students — 175,175 in arts, 40,588 in science, 18,178 in commerce and 868 in vocational — are appearing for the examination from 772 centres.

Additional reporting by Satananda Bhattacharjee in Hailakandi and a staff reporter in Guwahati