Three Madhyamik examinees were allegedly caught with cellphones inside exam venues on Thursday and have been barred from writing the remaining papers, an official of the state secondary board said.

The candidates were caught at test venues in Calcutta and West Midnapore.

Thursday’s paper was geography.

Five examinees were allegedly caught with mobile phones inside test venues in Ratua and Kaliachak in Malda and Barrackpore in North 24-Parganas on Wednesday.

This is the first time the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, which conducts the Madhyamik, has decided to bar students from writing all papers if found carrying mobiles at examination venues.