200 SSC aspirants protesting CGL paper leak detained

New Delhi: Thousands of SSC aspirants took to the streets on Saturday, demanding a CBI probe into the alleged leak of the Combined Graduate Level Tier-II examination, and clashed with police at Sansad Marg here.

Police later detained 207 aspirants, who they were taken to several police stations in New Delhi.

Demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the matter, thousands of Staff Selection Commission (SSC) aspirants staged a protest at Sansad Marg and accused the Central government of failing to prevent the alleged paper leak.

The protesters also demanded adequate jobs for the educated youth of the country.

Gathered under the banner 'Yuva Halla Bol', protesters wanted a written assurance over resolution of their demands and said they would march towards the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) office.

Later, a statement from Yuva halla Bol demanded formation of an expert committee to take suggestions from students for systemic reforms in SSC and also said that if Jitendra Singh, the Minister incharge of the DoPT is unable to meet their genuine demands, he must resign.

"An organisation, 'Swaraj India', had applied for permission to protest and we asked them to go to Ramlila Maidan after the NGT banned protest at Jantar Mantar. However, they still gathered here defying our suggestion," said Ajay Chowdhary, Joint CP (New Delhi), elaborating the detention of the protestors.

A large number of police and security personnel were deployed in the area and when protesters attempted to march towards the DoPT office, they were detained.

According to a senior police officer present at the spot, around 3,000 SSC aspirants were protesting near the Parliament Street police station.

Around 3 pm, they attempted to proceed towards Parliament. As they were stopped by police, protesters started marching towards Connaught Place, he added.

Police resorted to mild use of force to tackle the protesters and, in the process, some aspirants sustained minor injuries.

Traffic was also disrupted by the protesters, as they held up traffic in Lutyens' Delhi for over an hour. Police managed to disperse them, taking in around 200 of the protesters.

They are under detention at various police stations in New Delhi, the officer added.

The SSC conducts examinations for recruitment to the lower categories of posts in the central government.