OPRB faces heat as SI aspirants stage protest, demand timely re-test amid CBI probe

Tension mounted outside the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) office as SI (Sub-Inspector) aspirants staged a loud protest in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. 

With the CBI investigation into the alleged SI exam scam currently underway, uncertainty continues to loom large over the announcement of the re-examination date.

Candidates expressed deep frustration as the exam has been cancelled multiple times, shattering the hopes of thousands of job aspirants who have been preparing for years. The repeated delays have led to growing anxiety and resentment among the students.

Demanding that the authorities announce a fresh exam schedule at the earliest, the agitated aspirants intensified their agitation, urging the government to provide clarity and restore their confidence in the recruitment process. 

Also Read: Odisha Police SI recruitment scam: CBI registers case, DSP-rank officer to investigate

"Our first demand is that the sooner  OPRB would conduct the examination, the better for us. We are not only reading but also preparing ourselves physically. If an aspirant is preparing for SI, he/she needs to be prepared for physical and written tests. How long could we prepare ourselves physically? How long one can remain fit? We are suffering from injuries and knee ache. We are feeling aimless due to the prevailing situation. The examination has been cancelled twice. We are so much frustrated that we ourselves have to wipe out tears. I have seen aspirants in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar that they don't have even time to cook. However, they go to libraries so that they could study for eight to ten hours," said an aspirant.

"General candidates have age limit of 25 plus for SI job. Whereas in the other examinations, there is an age limit of 42 years. Aspirants within 25 years of age should get at least chances to sit in the examination. The examination should be conducted as soon as possible with transparency," she added.