Itahari, August 12:

Accusing police of arresting owner of the Inaruwa (1)-based Panchakanya Photo Studio Saroj Shrestha along with three of his customers and beating him, locals today announced an indefinite closure of the Inaruwa Bazaar in Sunsari district. Police had reportedly arrested and beaten Shrestha on the charge of making photocopies of question papers of SLC supplementary examination in English today. The question papers of English leaked before the exams began today. The three people had come to the photo studio this morning to have their photographs taken.

Police mercilessly beat Shrestha in custody, a central member of the Eastern Regional Photographer Association, Narayan Shah, said. Protesting the arrests, local businessmen, including Shah, staged a sit-in at the District Police Office. Shah said the indefinite closure was announced after police refused to listen to them.

The four were released later in the day. Students were seen lining photocopy centres, asking the proprietors to make photocopies of question paper of English.

DSP of the Sunsari DPO Nar Bahadur KC said action will be taken if the policemen are found to be guilty in the incident.

Meanwhile, police arrested 10 persons from the SLC exam centre at the Itahari-based Janata Secondary School as they were found helping students cheat in the exam.