On 17 and 18 February 2023 a "public" bandh shut the Itanagar Capital Region in Arunachal Pradesh over the leak of an Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam paper. Protesters led by the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) clashed with police, about 10 people were reported injured, and internet was cut. Late on 18 February the Pema Khandu government accepted most of the PAJSC's 13 demands. Whether those promises were kept, and the detention of protest leaders, are still disputed.
Key takeaways
- A complaint by candidate Gyamar Padang exposed the leak of the August 2022 APPSC assistant engineer (civil) exam. The CBI took over, and the probe widened to exams held since 2014.
- On 17 February 2023 protests against the swearing-in of a new APPSC chairman turned into clashes in Itanagar. Police used lathi-charges and tear gas and said protesters burnt vehicles and threw stones.
- Late on 18 February the government accepted most of the PAJSC's 13 demands, but referred the demand to void tainted exams to the APPSC.
- During a second bandh in May 2023, 44 people were booked under a state preventive detention law. The government said bandhs are illegal; families and rights groups called it an abuse of power.
Background: the August 2022 leak
The APPSC held a written exam for assistant engineer (civil) posts on 26 and 27 August 2022, taken by more than 400 candidates. On 29 August one candidate, Gyamar Padang, filed a complaint at Itanagar police station saying he suspected the paper had been leaked PTI via ETV Bharat.
Capital police began the inquiry and then passed it to the state's Special Investigation Cell (SIC). The SIC arrested 10 people, including APPSC deputy secretary and deputy controller of examination Taket Jerang PTI via ETV Bharat. APPSC chairman Nipo Nabam resigned on 14 October 2022, "owning moral responsibility for the omissions and commissions of the officer of the commission" IANS via Morung Express.
On 27 October 2022 the cabinet asked the Governor to use Article 317 to remove four commission members, and the CBI took over the case IANS via Morung Express. The other members later resigned too Arunachal Times.
The probe widened. By January 2023 the SIC had arrested 46 people, 39 of them government servants, and the CBI registered a second FIR covering all APPSC exams since 2014. The SIC said the former chairman had been questioned but it had "no solid evidence" of his involvement PTI via Arunachal Times.
Who organised it and what they wanted
The PAJSC was formed by aspirants after Padang's complaint, and he was one of its members Arunachal Times. Led by chairman Techi Puru and vice chairman Tadak Nalo, it worked with the All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) Arunachal Times. Its 13-point charter, as reported by PTI, included PTI via Arunachal Times IANS via Business Standard:
- declaring "null and void" every APPSC exam whose paper was leaked;
- immediate arrest of the former chairman, secretary, members and other officers;
- a court-monitored probe and an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation;
- dismissal of government officers involved;
- recruitment exams to be run by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) instead of the APPSC;
- publication of the three-member committee report on the leak;
- recall of three state officers posted to the APPSC;
- Rs 5 lakh compensation for each affected candidate.
The trigger was the plan to swear in a new commission under retired Lt Gen Shantanu Dayal. The PAJSC objected that at 61 he would serve only a year before the retirement age of 62. "The government and the commission are on a mission to complete their paper-selling business," Padang alleged Scroll.
Timeline of the bandh
Bandh called, swearing-in dropped
The "public" announced a bandh over "the lackadaisical attitude of the state government" towards the 13 demands. The cabinet met virtually and called off the swearing-in Arunachal Times.
Capital shut
Thousands, including aspirants and parents, took to the streets as Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa shut down. Protesters damaged posters of President Droupadi Murmu, due to visit from 20 February. Nalo said: "We are handing it over to the people now" PTI via Careers360.
Clashes on the Raj Bhavan road
A major clash broke out on the highway to Raj Bhavan; one injured person was referred outside the state Arunachal Times. Protesters blocked NH-415 by burning tyres EastMojo.
Internet cut, talks refused
Internet was suspended in the capital region until 19 February. The PAJSC refused Khandu's invitation to talks and said the bandh would go statewide until 21 February Arunachal Times.
Talks and a deal
As crowds and police faced off outside the civil secretariat Arunachal Times editorial, Khandu and two ministers met the PAJSC, ANSU, Nari Shakti and activist Sol Dodum for about eight hours. Late at night the government accepted most demands and the bandh was withdrawn Arunachal Times.
The violence and the injuries
Reports of the injuries on 17 February differ:
- Claim · Police IGP (Law and Order) Chukhu Apa told ANI that 10 people, including four security officials, were injured, and that "some protesters burnt down a motorcycle and one four-wheeler, damaged properties and threw stones" Scroll. He told EastMojo more than 10 police were hurt, including his security officer, reported critical EastMojo.
- PTI quoted officials as saying "scores of protestors and police personnel" were injured PTI via EastMojo; IANS put it at 10 on both sides IANS via Business Standard.
- Claim · Protesters Protesters said police "charged them aggressively" Arunachal Times.
The internet suspension order cited "destruction of police barricades, lathi-charge and firing of tear gas shells" PTI via Arunachal Times. The sources reviewed report tear gas and baton charges, not live ammunition, and no deaths or curfew. In May 2023 Apa said police had been "attacked with lethal weapons" in February but "restrained ourselves" Arunachal Times.
What the government agreed on 18 February
According to the minutes reported by The Arunachal Times, the government Arunachal Times:
- said APPSC office-bearers and officials from 2014 to 2022 were "already under the purview of investigation" by the CBI;
- said the Gauhati High Court had agreed to make the Yupia district and sessions court a fast-track court for the leak cases;
- agreed to seek a retired judge's inquiry from the Centre and to write to the ED;
- said 41 government employees had been arrested, regular staff suspended and probationers served termination notices, and agreed to act on terminating Taket Jerang;
- agreed to ask the UPSC to hold pending exams, cancel the new appointments, recognise Padang and compensate the injured "as per norms".
On the "null and void" demand, the government said the request was being sent to the APPSC, "the competent authority to decide this" Arunachal Times. This affected 966 officers recruited through the APPSC since 2014. Some of those officers said they would fight it Arunachal Times.
Both accounts
PAJSC's account
The PAJSC accused the state of being "in rush to appoint a chairman" while the scam was unresolved Scroll. Afterwards it said the 18 February minutes were "a piece of paper", that "the majority of demands have not been fulfilled", and that the government "went on a witch hunt against PAJSC" Arunachal Times. It said in September 2023 that none of the injured had been compensated, and it wants the cases against protesters withdrawn Arunachal Times.
Police and government account
Government's position Khandu said the government's "only intention was to overhaul" the APPSC and give relief to "innocent aspirants" EastMojo. He called the leak "inhumane" PTI via Arunachal Times, and in August 2023 said all 13 demands had been fulfilled PTI via EastMojo. A senior official said the February shutdown, timed for the President's visit, "was extreme provocation". The official said the government still agreed to the demands, but "bandh call is illegal and therefore we had no choice but to take action" Arunachal Times.
Cases and detentions of protesters
The state government later said 13 cases were registered in the capital region over the "violent protests by the activists of PAJSC" on 17 and 18 February. It refused to withdraw them, saying "there is no provision in the law for the withdrawal of such cases" once filed Arunachal Times.
The PAJSC and others called a 72-hour bandh from 10 to 12 May 2023, saying the demands were unmet. The administration declared it illegal, imposed Section 144, cut the internet and invoked the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (APUAPA), 2014, a preventive detention law. Police said a mob damaged Naharlagun police station Arunachal Times PTI via Outlook. Forty-four people were booked, and 36, including Sol Dodum, had their detention extended to 30 days Arunachal Times.
One aspirant said using APUAPA, which "originally was UAPA", on protesting aspirants "is not justified" Arunachal Times. Capital DC Talo Potom said the detentions were "a preventive measure and is not related to any Indian Penal Code offences". By 9 June 2023, 41 detainees had been released Arunachal Times.
PAJSC chairman Techi Puru, a PWD junior engineer, was suspended in May 2023 after a detention order Arunachal Times. In July 2023 the capital DC ordered him detained under APUAPA for 12 days over an attempt to clear a highway plot for a "statue of honesty" for Padang Arunachal Times. Padang's family called the order "arbitrary, dictatorial and unilateral" Arunachal Times.
On 19 February 2024, before the Vice President's Statehood Day visit, six PAJSC leaders were detained for 24 hours under Sections 107 and 151 CrPC. The Human Rights Law Network called this "a violation of rights and blatant abuse of power". Police said they had offered other protest sites Arunachal Times Arunachal Times.
The government's reforms
- New commission: The Dayal appointments were cancelled in March 2023 PTI via EastMojo. NERIST professor Pradip Lingfa was appointed chairman in December 2023 EastMojo and took oath on 21 January 2024 EastMojo.
- UPSC: The UPSC declined to hold the exams. It said this "is not permissible when a duly constituted public service commission is functioning in the state" Arunachal Times.
- Staff: APPSC cadres were merged with common government cadres so officers could be transferred Arunachal Times, and two probationary officers were terminated PTI via Arunachal Times.
- ED and inquiry: The ED searched premises on 21 March 2023 and froze Rs 1.41 crore PTI via EastMojo. In August 2023 the state set up a one-man commission under retired Justice P K Deka to examine exams from April 2014 to August 2022 PTI via EastMojo.
- New law: On 23 July 2024 the assembly unanimously passed a public examination bill against unfair means in recruitment. It provides at least three years' jail, fines up to Rs 1 crore, lifetime debarment for convicted candidates and a special court All India Radio.
On the "null and void" demand, Khandu told the assembly in March 2023 that the government had "no rule to declare the exams null and void as the APPSC is an autonomous body" PTI via Arunachal Times. In November 2023 the PAJSC said it would reserve that demand "for legal scrutiny" and press the other 12 Sentinel.
The CBI case
On 8 December 2022 the CBI filed its first chargesheet in the Yupia court in the assistant engineer case. Reports give the number of accused as eight, 10 or 11 EastMojo PTI via Arunachal Times. Supplementary chargesheets followed on 31 January and 30 March 2023, the second against Jerang. The CBI alleges that Jerang, "in connivance with the middleman and others", leaked the questions to candidates for large sums Arunachal Times.
Khandu told the assembly in March 2023 that 54 people, including 42 government officials, had been arrested over malpractice in 11 APPSC exams held since 2017 PTI via Arunachal Times. On 10 November 2023 the Supreme Court granted Jerang bail, over the CBI's objection Arunachal Times. In August 2024 the CBI filed a third supplementary chargesheet. It accused a candidate's mother of paying a middleman Rs 5 lakh by cheque for the leaked questions, and said its investigation was complete Arunachal Times Sentinel.
Outcome
- Deaths: None reported in the February 2023 bandh.
- Injuries: 10 per the IGP and IANS; "scores" on both sides per PTI.
- Cases against protesters: 13 over 17 and 18 February, per the government; 44 booked under APUAPA in May 2023.
- Commission: New chairman and members in office from December 2023 and January 2024.
- Law: Public examination unfair means bill passed in July 2024.
Where things stand
In May 2025 Tadak Nalo, by then chairman of the Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front, wrote that "the trial processes of the accused have not even started", that the CBI and ED had arrested no one since taking over, and that several accused got default bail Arunachal Times. These are his claims. No report on trial progress or on the Deka commission's findings was found.
Gyamar Padang died in a Hyderabad hospital on 3 May 2023 after a prolonged illness EastMojo PTI via Outlook. A reader's letter to The Arunachal Times in January 2026 noted that the state's Republic Day awards gave him a posthumous gold medal and also honoured the APPSC Arunachal Times. The Whistleblower Act and statue the PAJSC sought had not materialised as of Nalo's May 2025 column.
Questions people ask
What was the APPSC paper leak?
The question paper of the APPSC assistant engineer (civil) exam held on 26 and 27 August 2022 was allegedly leaked to candidates for money. A candidate, Gyamar Padang, complained on 29 August 2022. Investigators later found alleged malpractice in several exams since 2014.
What were the PAJSC's 13 demands?
They included cancelling leaked exams, arresting former APPSC office-bearers, a court-monitored and ED probe, sacking officials involved, exams by the UPSC and Rs 5 lakh compensation per candidate.
Did police open fire in Itanagar?
The sources reviewed report lathi-charges and tear gas shells on 17 February 2023, not live firing. About 10 people were reported injured, and PTI said "scores" were hurt on both sides.
Were the leaked exams cancelled?
Pending exams were cancelled or postponed after the leak. The state referred the demand to void past exams to the APPSC, and the Chief Minister said the government had no rule to cancel them. The PAJSC later set that demand aside for legal scrutiny.
Why were protesters detained under APUAPA?
During a 72-hour bandh in May 2023 the administration called the bandh illegal and booked 44 people under the state's preventive detention law. Officials called it preventive; families and rights groups called it unjustified.
Sources
- PTI via ETV Bharat: CBI files charge sheet in APPSC question paper leak case, 9 Dec 2022
- EastMojo: Eight accused named in CBI chargesheet, 9 Dec 2022
- IANS via Morung Express: Govt to remove panel members, CBI probe on, 27 Oct 2022
- PTI via Arunachal Times: CBI files another FIR in APPSC cash-for-job scam, 8 Jan 2023
- Scroll: Ten injured as protest against exam paper leak turns violent in Itanagar, 17 Feb 2023
- PTI via Careers360: Protesters demand cancellation of swearing-in of new APPSC chairman, 17 Feb 2023
- EastMojo: APPSC protest turns violent; IGP's PSO among 10 injured, 17 Feb 2023
- Arunachal Times: ICR shut down; bandh to be enforced statewide till 21 Feb, 18 Feb 2023
- PTI via EastMojo: Bandh affects normal life in Arunachal Pradesh capital, 18 Feb 2023
- PTI via Arunachal Times: Bandh enters second day, 19 Feb 2023
- Arunachal Times: Govt agrees to most of 13 demands; bandh withdrawn, 19 Feb 2023
- EastMojo: Bandh called off after govt agrees to demands of PAJSC, 19 Feb 2023
- Arunachal Times: Gloom among APPSC officers over null and void decision, 20 Feb 2023
- IANS via Business Standard: Aug 26-27 paper leak continues to rock Arunachal despite CBI probe, 26 Feb 2023
- Arunachal Times: Editorial on the bandh and the Gangkak death protest, 7 Mar 2023
- PTI via EastMojo: Appointment of APPSC chairman, members cancelled, 9 Mar 2023
- PTI via Arunachal Times: Process on to remove all officials involved in APPSC exam irregularities, says CM, 12 Mar 2023
- PTI via Arunachal Times: Two Group A officers terminated, 16 Mar 2023
- PTI via EastMojo: ED raids multiple locations in APPSC, APSSB scams, 24 Mar 2023
- Arunachal Times: UPSC refuses to conduct exams; reforms briefing, 3 May 2023
- EastMojo: APPSC paper leak scam whistleblower passes away, 3 May 2023
- Arunachal Times: Uneasy calm ahead of 72-hour bandh, 10 May 2023
- PTI via Outlook: 72-hour bandh affects normal life in Arunachal Pradesh capital, 10 May 2023
- Arunachal Times: Detention of 36 under APUAPA extended to 30 days, 19 May 2023
- Arunachal Times: Families of detainees seek leniency; govt defends action, 26 May 2023
- Arunachal Times: 15 more APUAPA detainees released, 10 Jun 2023
- Arunachal Times: Section 144 and APUAPA order over statue plot, 26 Jul 2023
- Arunachal Times: Padang's family seek revocation of order against PAJSC chairman, 27 Jul 2023
- Arunachal Times: PAJSC accuses govt of not fulfilling 13 demands, 12 Aug 2023
- PTI via EastMojo: Panel formed to probe APPSC question paper leak cases, 18 Aug 2023
- Arunachal Times: PAJSC rejects govt's report as eye wash, 19 Aug 2023
- Arunachal Times: PAJSC begins three-day dharna, 27 Sep 2023
- Arunachal Times: Supreme Court grants bail to Taket Jerang, 11 Nov 2023
- Sentinel: PAJSC urges Chief Minister to resolve APPSC paper leak case, 23 Nov 2023
- Arunachal Times: Govt releases action taken report, 2 Dec 2023
- EastMojo: APPSC gets new chairman, members, 13 Dec 2023
- EastMojo: APPSC chairman to take oath on 21 Jan, 20 Jan 2024
- Arunachal Times: APWWS, HRLN condemn PAJSC arrests, 22 Feb 2024
- Arunachal Times: Six PAJSC members released, 23 Feb 2024
- Arunachal Times: First death anniversary of Gyamar Padang, 6 May 2024
- All India Radio: Assembly passes Public Examination Bill 2024 unanimously, 23 Jul 2024
- Arunachal Times: CBI files 3rd supplementary chargesheet, 31 Aug 2024
- Sentinel: CBI concludes investigation of APPSC question paper leak case, 31 Aug 2024
- Arunachal Times: Column by Tadak Nalo on the second death anniversary of Gyamar Padang, 5 May 2025
- Arunachal Times: Reader's letter on Republic Day awards to Gyamar Padang and the APPSC, 30 Jan 2026