DHANGADHI: Grade XII students of Mohanyal Higher Secondary School in Bhajani, taking the final examination at Rastriya Higher Secondary School in Sukhad, today gheraoed the contact office of Higher Secondary Education Board citing that their symbol numbers were altered.

The students had protested the change of their identification number on the fourth day of exam. Sanjay Dagaura, who took the first three exams under 27115161, was shocked to find tha his symbol number had changed to 27115163 on the fourth day. Forty students said their numbers were changed.

"Confusion arose after the symbol numbers of two students, Krishna Bohara and Krishna Saud, were found to be an identical -- 27115096," a student, Sher Bahadur Chaudhari, said. The case was reported to the exam superintendent Karna Bhandari, who admitted the board had erred.

The students have demanded that the answer scripts be checked by adjusting the symbol numbers. HSEB officials, school management committee members and the exam superintendent have agreed to solve the problem.