On May 5th, two more people associated with the infamous VYAPAM scam died in suspicious circumstances, increasing the mystery associated. The irregularities on entrance examination conducted by Madhya Pradesh Professional Entrance Exam Board, popularly known as VYAPAM had been reported eleven years back. In 2011, over 2000 people were arrested in connection to the scam and since then there has been a chain of deaths of people investigating the scam and allegedly involved in the scam.
There were incidents in which OMR sheets would be left blank by the candidates and they were given high marks randomly. One student would be strategically placed by the examiner between two students involved in the scam and they were allowed to copy the answers. Another major modus operandi they followed was to replace the photograph of the candidate so that someone else could attend the exam on behalf of the candidate seeking admission. Though the major focus has been on the rigging of PMT, there was foul play involved in other exams conducted by VYAPAM including Pre-PG, Milk Federation test, Food Inspector Selection Test, Sub Inspector and Platoon Commander Selection Test, SBI probationary officer examination, IBPS and Police Constable Recruitment Test
Since the discrepancies of Pre Medical Test was exposed, there were countless deaths. In 2010, six middlemen involved in the scam died due to drug misuse, suicides and road accidents. From 2012, when the investigation was handed over to Special Task Force, over thirty people including students who got admission via these illicit measures and their parents, committed suicide or died in road mishaps. And finally, a journalist of Aaj Tak, Akshay Singh died of cardiac arrest in Madhya Pradesh though strong foul play is supposed to be involved.
Laws are not equal for everyone in India and there stands very little chances for the actual whistle blowers of the scam to be punished if at all the case gets solved. But to murder anyone remotely involved in the scam and anyone probing into the matter points out that what we know is just the tip of the ice berg. This is a serious accusation to the law and order in the state of Madhya Pradesh and requires strict investigation. The deaths have brought the scam into media attention and now the question arises not just on the impartiality of the government entrance exams but also on the security the state can provide for any citizen who dares to stand up against the mafia.
