‘Cheating gangs’ of Mewat back in action

Sumedha Sharma

Gurugram, March 6

The Haryana board exam for classes X and XII have started and the “cheating gangs of Mewat” are back in action in Nuh district. Targeting 62 centres across the district, the gang, which has reportedly been contacted by villages to aid children in passing the exam, can be literally seen hanging along centre walls, throwing answer chits through windows.

However, this year, not just answers, but love letters, too, are being thrown at girl students, who have complained to the centre authorities. Aware of the nuisance, the Nuh police have formed special squads and have arrested five youths so far. This, however, has not deterred the spirit of the gangs, which are charging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per centre. The prices are the highest in Nuh block, where vigil is strict. The maximum “operations” have been reported from Tauru block.

They are carrying out the “assignments” and even celebrating their success through various social media reels. Speaking to “The Tribune”, one of the gang leaders “trained” in Alwar revealed that they inducted individuals with special skills. While three men, who were unemployed graduates, prepared chits, the acrobatically trained “nats” scaled walls, threw the chits and fled.

The gangs operate on bikes with no registration number and cover their faces to avoid being caught in cameras installed outside the centres.

“This is the norm in Mewat, be it Nuh, Alwar or Palwal. We take contracts for entire village as students have a common centre and the rate for each exam is different. We have package for all exams. This time things are easier as the centre heads and superintendents are all local. Many boys in our group are graduates preparing for government job. This gives them quick money,” said Mushtaq (name changed), hailing from Palwal. He has taken contract for three villages in Punhana.

Sources claim that the moment the exam starts, the question paper is thrown to them. The “process” is undertaken during the last one hour of the exam. A sarpanch from Punhana, on condition of anonymity, revealed that there were no teachers for majority of the year and that was the only way the children could pass.

A spokesperson of Nuh police said, “The instances have reduced as we have posted extra force at the centres. We have nabbed five persons so far. We are also keeping a tab on social media and those posting reels will be nabbed soon.”

Girls complain of lewd messages

Girl examinees of MSD School, Tauru, have complained to the centre authorities that love letters and chits with objectionable messages and phone numbers are being thrown from windows. The matter is yet to be reported to the police.