Guwahati: The Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) has postponed two Class 12 examinations in West Garo Hills district following clashes between tribal and non-tribal groups over the nomination process for local council elections.
The music and anthropology papers of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examination, scheduled for March 11 and March 12, have been deferred in the district, an official said. Examinations in the remaining districts of the state will continue as scheduled.
MBOSE Director of Accreditation and Controller of Examinations T.R. Laloo said the examinations planned for the two dates “stand cancelled for West Garo Hills only” and will be conducted later. The revised schedule will be announced in due course, he added.
More than 29,000 students are appearing for the HSSLC examination conducted by the board this year.
The decision to postpone the examinations in the district comes amid a volatile situation in parts of West Garo Hills, where curfew has been imposed following incidents of violence.
Two persons were killed in police firing on Tuesday during clashes between tribal and non-tribal groups in the district during the filing of nominations for the local council polls. The unrest prompted authorities to impose curfew and deploy the Army to maintain law and order.
Officials said the examinations were deferred as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and examination staff.