The Bengali question paper of the Madhyamik exam was leaked in at least two venues of Malda district on Friday, the first day of the exam.

However, unlike earlier years, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) that conducts the exam, managed to identify two examinees with the help of the QR codes printed on the questions and cancelled their registrations for leaking the papers.

Two others, who were found preparing chits while reading the leaked question papers on their cell phones near an exam centre were arrested.

Police sources said that around 10.45am, that is, about an hour after the examination commenced, the Bengali question paper leaked from Raigram High School which is in Amrity area of Englishbazar block. At the institution, examinees from Sovanagar High School and Nagharia High School, which are in the same block, had their seats.

Soon, a similar leakage was reported from Bedrabad High School in Kaliachak-III block of the district. Students from Chamagram High School had their seats here.

As officials of the district administration learnt about the question paper leak, a team led by Pankaj Tamang, the SDO (Sadar) of Malda, reached Raigram High School. A police team from the local Milky police outpost also reached the venue and detained two outsiders busy preparing chits outside the school. Later, they were arrested.

A member of the examination conducting committee constituted by the WBBSE said that in due course, one examinee each from both the exam centres was identified.

“Since each question paper bore a unique QR code this year, it was easier to identify those who had clicked photos of the question paper and sent those via smartphones to outsiders. Their registrations have been cancelled and they cannot sit in the exam this year,” the committee member said.

In Malda, question paper leaks are not uncommon.

“It is one of the reasons why the QR code was put in question papers from this year. Even then, a section of students seems to be desperate to resort to unscrupulous means during Madhyamik. These examinees must understand that they can be easily identified this time,” said Nitin Singhania, the district magistrate of Malda.