Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (PTI): A case of alleged mass copying was found during the HSC or Class 12 English examination paper in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, following which an FIR was registered against 23 persons, including the invigilators, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday, the first day of the Class 12 exams conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, at Jaitapur in Kannad taluka, they said.

"A case of mass copying was detected in Rashtriya Higher Secondary School at Jaitapur as the examinees were found copying from each other's answer sheets. It was also confirmed in the CCTV footage," an official of Devgaon Rangari police station told PTI.

After going through the CCTV footage, the vigilance committee initiated action and an offence was registered against 23 people, including the Zilla Parishad teachers who were invigilators, and other members of the team," he said.

An education department official said the process to suspend the Zilla Parishad employees allegedly involved in the incident has been initiated.

Those employees of the school found involved will also face action, he said.

After the malpractice came to light, the entire staff at this exam centre was changed, accordingto to him.

The offence was registered under sections of the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act, 1982, the police official said.

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Mangaluru (PTI): The Dakshina Kannada district Police district have found that a 16-year-old girl's claim of an attempted kidnapping and knife attack on her was "fabricated", with investigators concluding that she caused superficial injuries to herself and staged the incident as she wanted to move to a college in Mangaluru city and ensure her parents secured her admission there. 

The episode came to light on February 9 within the Belthangady police station limits, around 57 km from Mangaluru, after the junior college student alleged she was targeted by unidentified men travelling in a car. 

In her complaint, the girl told police that the occupants of a mini van tried to forcibly drag her inside near Kasaba village, while she was heading towards Belthangady around 8.15 am. She claimed she was attacked with a knife when she resisted. 

A passerby who had noticed the girl standing alone by the roadside in distress, with minor bleeding injuries on her shoulder and finger brought her home at her request. He subsequently informed police that he had not seen any suspicious vehicle in the area. 

Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from multiple locations but found no evidence supporting the girl's version. A medical examination further indicated that the wounds were superficial and seemed self-inflicted, officials said. 

"Based on the footage and medical opinion, we questioned her again. She later admitted the incident was staged," a police release stated here on Wednesday. 

According to police, the girl told investigators she fabricated the story because she wanted to move to a college in Mangaluru city.

Authorities said further procedural action is being taken.