BENGALURU: The Bengaluru Traffic Police on Tuesday said their ‘fact check’ found that a late departure from home and selection of a longer route led to a student missing the NEET exam on June 21.The clarification was issued based on CCTV footage, interaction with the candidate from R T Nagar, and route analysis conducted by the parents, the police said, according to news agency PTI.Taking to social media platform ‘X’, the traffic police said CCTV analysis and route verification established that the candidate reached the examination centre after the stipulated cut-off time.“Traffic conditions were found to be normal, and traffic police personnel facilitated movement wherever required. The delay was primarily due to late departure from residence and route selection,” it said.Sharing details of the fact check, the traffic police said the candidate left the residence in R T Nagar at 12.57 pm, while 1.30 pm was the prescribed cut-off time for entry into the examination centre.However, the candidate reached the examination centre area at 1.33 pm, after the cut-off time, it said.Citing its findings, the Bengaluru Traffic Police said CCTV footage and route analysis confirmed that the candidate departed only 33 minutes before the prescribed cut-off time.It further said the analysis indicated that the candidate took a longer route, despite the availability of a shorter route that could have enabled quicker travel.“Traffic conditions on the day were generally normal, with no significant congestion attributable to the public event. Traffic Police personal deployed on the route were seen facilitating the candidate’s movement whenever required,” the Bengaluru Police fact-check revealed.The BJP has targeted the ruling Congress in Karnataka over a mega rally held in Bengaluru on the day of the NEET exam (June 21), alleging that it caused major traffic disruption and inconvenienced students travelling to examination centres.Rejecting the allegations, state home minister Priyank Kharge said three students missed the exam — one from Magadi, who had no link to the Congress rally, another who arrived with an old hall ticket, and only one student who was travelling from the R T Nagar side.Citing the standard operating procedures issued by the Centre for NEET, Kharge said examination centre gates were to open at 11 am and close at 1.30 pm, after which no candidate would be allowed entry.He also said a traffic advisory had been issued well in advance and a helpline was set up for those requiring assistance.
