Question papers for UN peacekeepers leaked

Published On: March 16, 2017 09:50 PM NPT By: KP DHUNGANA

KATHMANDU, March 16: The question papers of the examinations to select Nepali security personnel for deployment in the UN peacekeeping missions were leaked two hours before the examinations on Thursday.

The examinations were held at the headquarters of the Armed Police Force (APF) at Halchowk on Thursday for Nepal Police and APF personnel.

The UN sends an international team to test the qualifications of the security personnel. To maintain confidentiality of the questions, the UN sends question papers, audio and other test materials with the same team.

The candidates have to sit for tests in English, driving and use of firearms. There is also an interview. The APF headquarters was selected as the center for English language test on Wednesday and the English questions were leaked just ahead of the examination.

The examination was to start at 12 pm and examinees were strictly barred from carrying cell phones in the exam hall. However, sources said the questions were leaked to some examinees' cell phones at 10 am through Viber mobile application.

Sources said also the question sets prepared for the second group was leaked to examinees just ahead of the test.

The UN had sent a team of six officials from Ukraine and United States. The international team, which brought the test materials, printed and photocopied them so as to maintain secrecy, said the sources. Republica obtained a sheet of question paper, which was crinkled.

Nepal Police spokesman Sarbendra Khanal however expressed ignorance about the leak.

“We have no information about such incident as it is not the responsibility of Nepal Police to make security arrangements for the examination and test materials.”

APF spokesperson, Diwakar KC, said the APF's responsibility was to provide security for examinations center. “APF personnel have no role in the activities like copying the test papers. The international team does all these things on its own. We aren't allowed even to enter the examination centers as well. So we don't know how the questions leaked,” said KC.

Nepal Police and APF deploy their personnel in peacekeeping missions in Haiti, Sudan and Liberia through the UN.