Nalbari Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kusum Kumar Basumatary has been transferred to the 21st Assam Police Battalion (APBn) at Katlicherra in Hailakandi district amid an ongoing probe into allegations that a NEET aspirant was forced to remove his sacred thread during frisking at an examination centre in Nalbari. The move comes days after the June 21 re-test incident sparked wide criticism across Assam.
Basumatary, who was serving as DSP (Security and Intelligence) in Nalbari, has been posted as DSP of the 21st APBn. Authorities have not officially linked the transfer to the inquiry, but it coincides with continuing investigations by the district administration and the police.
The controversy began during the NEET re-test on June 21 when a Brahmin student alleged he was made to remove his sacred thread-a religious symbol of significance-before being allowed entry into the examination hall. According to the district administration, the on-duty personnel allegedly told the candidate to remove the thread and hand it to his mother prior to entering the centre.
Nalbari district officials launched a magisterial inquiry after the complaint. During the probe the student reportedly identified the police personnel involved; based on preliminary findings, Havildar Paban Kalita of Belsor Police Station has been placed under reserve close.
District Commissioner Nibedan Das Patowary said there was no valid justification for asking the candidate to remove the sacred thread during security checks. He added that the student and his parents were heard during the inquiry and that the personnel identified during the probe later offered an apology.
Officials also clarified that neither the National Testing Agency (NTA), the district administration nor the police had issued any instruction requiring candidates to remove sacred threads during frisking. Nalbari Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das has ordered a separate departmental inquiry by an IPS officer into the conduct of the police personnel and said departmental proceedings would follow the investigation’s findings.
The student’s mother, Runumi Bhagawati, said the family had replaced the sacred thread before the examination and removed a metallic ring attached to it to comply with rules prohibiting metallic objects. The outcome of the departmental probe is expected to determine whether further disciplinary action will be taken against the officials concerned.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-nalbari-dsp-transferred-amid-probe-into-neet-aspirant-sacred-thread-controversy-1413166-2026-06-23?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-06-23 22:05:00
