As the WBBSE Madhyamik class 10 paper surfaces for the sixth day on social media, WB Education Minister Partha Chatterjee still refuses to term these cases as paper leaks.

Despite the arrest of five people including two examinees on Monday with connections to the multiple paper leaks during the WBBSE class 10 or Madhyamik exams, the sixth day saw yet another paper leak on February 19. While Monday saw the class 10 Mathematics paper being circulated on social media shortly after the exam began, Tuesday saw the same take place with the Physical Science question paper.

There were reports that the Bengali, English, History and Geography question papers were 'leaked' on WhatsApp during the last four days of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Examination (WBBSE).

Read: Class 10 Bengali question paper leaked on social media, WBBSE will not cancel exam

Refusal to term these as paper leak cases

Since the students were already writing the exams by the time the question papers was out on social media on all the days, the examination was not cancelled by the board.

"We do not have report of any question paper leak and the first day examinations passed off smoothly everywhere in the state, including the hills," said WBBSE President Kalyanmoy Ganguly on the first day of the 'paper leak'.

The West Bengal Board filed a complaint at the Bidhannagar Police Cyber Crime Cell against unknown people for sharing images of Bengali paper conducted on February 12, 2019.

Read: WBBSE question papers go viral for two consecutive exams, state education minister refuses to call it 'paper leak'

Here's what State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said

"If someone clicks a photo half an hour after writing the paper, can that be termed as question leak? Question leak happens when it comes out before the commencement of the examination," Partha Chatterjee told PTI on the third day of the WBBSE paper leak, during the history exam.

"I have continuously been in touch with district magistrates and superintendents of police during the day. There is no question paper leak. These are rumours being spread deliberately", he had said, adding that some people were trying to malign WBBSE.

The minister also said that mobile phones were not allowed inside examination halls and the examination had passed off "smoothly" like the two previous days when the Bengali and English exams were held and the images of the question papers surfaced on social media.

Chatterjee spoke to reporters again after holding a high-level meeting with education department officials and president of WBBSE Kalyanmoy Ganguly in Kolkata.

However, he denied that the meeting had anything to do with the paper leaks and said, "It (meeting) was related to review the examinations which have passed smoothly till this date," reported PTI.

When asked if he has asked for any report about the ongoing CID probe into the alleged question leak, he said, "I have asked the Board to get the status of the probe."

Criticism from opposition

Opposition parties in West Bengal criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for the continuous paper leaks in the class 10 state board exams.

"For 6 consecutive days, #question leaked in Madhyamik examination. Never happened in #WB. A devastating situation. A destroyed education scenario," CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty said in a tweet.

"Stop tall talks. Feel ashamed @MamataOfficial," he added.

For 6 consecutive days #question leaked in Madhyamik examination. Never happened in #WB. A devastating situation. A destroyed education scenario. War against educated youth. Stop tall talks. Feel ashamed @MamataOfficial. pic.twitter.com/TSWwnG8C9k Dr.Sujan Chakraborty (@Sujan_Speak) February 19, 2019

WBBSE president Kalyanmoy Ganguly refused to comment on the controversy when contacted on Tuesday.

The CPI(M)'s students wing -- SFI and youth wing DYFI -- has criticised the WBBSE for the reported leak, while the 'Chhatra Parishad', the students' wing of the state Congress, demonstrated before the board's office on Monday and handed over a memorandum to Ganguly.

Read: WBBSE Class 10 History paper images leaked

Who were arrested for the WBBSE paper leaks?

As per Monday's reports, the CID arrested class 12 students Sahabul Amir and Shahbaz Mondal from Malda and Katwa, respectively.

Another person, Sajidur Rahman from Hooghly district, was also apprehended during several raids conducted by the probe agency's sleuths, the IPS officer told PTI.

"Five persons have been arrested in raids conducted Sunday from different parts of West Bengal. Two candidates of Madhyamik examination have also been apprehended. Raids are also being continued to apprehend others involved in the racket," the CID officer said.

As per reports, the accused had opened a WhatsApp group for sending out images of the question papers.

Some more people are involved in the racket and more students could also be involved, the officer said, adding that the phone numbers used for the purpose were identified and a search for the owners has been initiated, the WB CID official said.

Read: West Bengal WBBSE Madhyamik paper leak row: CID arrests 2 examinees among 5

About the Madhyamik exams by WBBSE

Madhyamik, the class 10 school leaving examination, is conducted by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBSEB).

The Madhyamik Class 10 examinations started from February 12 whereas the Class 12 will begin from February 26, 2019. The WBBSE class 10 examination will end on February 22, while the Uchha Madhyamik (High School) examination will end on March 13, 2019.

According to reports, a total of 10,66,000 students are appearing in the class 10 school leaving examination at various test centres across the state.