Assam Police on September 28 declared cash awards for information on retired DIG PK Dutta and Diban Deka, alleged masterminds of police recruitment exam question paper leak scam in the state.

“Assam Police has declared award of Rs 1 lakh each for information leading to the information or location of Prashanta Kumar Dutta, DIG (retd) and Diban Deka,” an official statement informed on September 28.

Earlier in the day, addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta said 19 accused have been arrested in the scam so far, while the two main accused Dutta and Deka, were absconding.

Four arrests have been made by the CID and nine by Guwahati Police, while rest were arrested by Nalbari Police.

Five cases regarding the paper leak scam have been registered in the state, one each by the CID, Guwahati Police, Lakhimpur Police, Karbi Anglong Police and Nalbari Police.

IGP (Law and Order) GP Singh, who was also present at the press conference, said look-out notice across the country has been issued against Dutta so that he cannot escape to any other nation.

On the status of Deka, Singh said he will be nabbed “in a day or two”.

The scam pertains to leak of question paper for recruitment of 597 sub-inspectors in Assam Police. The examination, which was scheduled for September 20, was cancelled within minutes of commencement as the question paper began circulating through various means.

Meanwhile, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on September 28 reconstituted the State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB). Following the resignation of retired IPS officer Pradeep Kumar from the post of chairman of the board owing moral responsibility for the paper leak, Sonowal appointed DGP Mahanta as the new chairman, besides ADGP Harmeet Singh as member secretary and ADGP LR Bishnoi and IGP Hiren Nath as members of the board.

The chief minister, who also holds the Home department, has directed the board to complete the written examination for the sub-inspector posts, which had to be cancelled due to question paper lead, within November 20.

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