Arrested six students confess to cheating

Six students, three of whom from Dhaka University, arrested on Saturday over cheating in the admission tests of Barisal University, gave confessional statements before a Barisal court yesterday.

Magistrate Amit Kumar Dey recorded their statements, said Mahbubul Alam, a sub-inspector of the Detective Branch of Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP).

However, Mahbubul, also the investigation officer of the case, said the six told the court that they were involved in leaking questions and supplying answers via electronic devices to five admission seekers in exchange for money.

After recording the statements, they were sent to Barisal Central Jail, he said, adding that they are trying to arrest other members of the gang.

Sub-inspector Ashish Kumar of the DB lodged a case with Kotwali Police Station after the six had been caught red-handed in a rented house on Arshed Ali Contractor Lane in Barisal city while they were involved in such activities.

Of the arrestees, Maruf Hossain Maruf of geology, Alamgir Hossain Sahin of soil, water and environment science, and Mahamudul Hasan Abid of mathematics are from Dhaka University.

The rest are Rakib Akon of Mohammadpur Degree College, Sabbir Ahamed Pritom of Galachipa Degree College and Muidur Rahman of sociology of Barisal University.

Five electro-magnetic devices (EMD), 11 cellphone sets, 13 SIMs and five electro-magnetic blue tooth inductions were seized from them.

Describing the process of cheating at a press conference on Saturday, BMP Commissioner SM Ruhul Amin said the gangsters install an EMD, which acts as a mobile phone, with an inserted SIM, in an examinee's body.

They also give the person a blue tooth induction, which is actually an earphone, he said.

“In the exam hall, they connect an examinee to the EMD by calling and get the multiple choice questions from the person. Instantly, they provide the answers to the examinee,” he added.