Rampant copying took place today on the first day of the Class X exam of Punjab School Education Board during the mathematics paper in the border areas of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur.

Cheating took place even as the district education authorities in these three districts and the Punjab School Education Board claimed that they had taken strict measures to curb the menace.

Cheating was being done openly in examination centres in Sri Hargobindpur, Dera Baba Nanak, Mirpur and Kalanaur in Gurdaspur. Cheating was also reported in Patti, Valtoha and surrounding villages where schools lack teachers for the subject.

Huge crowds of relatives of the students taking the exam could be seen gathered outside the examination centres and many were seen trying to enter the centres or sending chits inside to help their wards.

Sources stated chits virtually came flying out of one of these examination centres in Gurdaspur like confetti as soon as a team from the district education office, Gurdaspur, arrived there for checking. “The math paper was quite tough and only a few students, who had received proper guidance were able to solve it on their own. The others depended on chits,” said Sukhwinder Singh, a student from Gurdaspur.

A teacher on condition of anonymity said they had no option but to allow students to cheat as the Board had warned of asking an explanation from teachers whose results were poor. Even as he confirmed that huge crowds were gathered outside the exam centres, Gurdaspur DEO Gurmeet Singh, however, denied that any cheating took place. “Nothing of the sort has come to my notice yet, but strict action would be taken against those indulging in it,” he said. Neelam Bhagat, DEO Secondary, Amritsar, said efforts were being made to ensure that no cheating takes place.