The guest house of Nilachal Ispat Nigam Limited ransacked by job aspirants. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 30: Tension prevailed at the guesthouse of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited at Lumbini Vihar today during a walk-in interview. Jobseekers ransacked the guest house alleging irregularities in the interview process.

Following an advertisement by the steel plant, a public sector company, a walk-in interview was being held today for the posts of operator-cum-technician for its lime-dolo plant. While there was vacancy for 10 posts, around 500 aspirants had turned up for the interview.

Tension started in the afternoon after a group of aspirants alleged that they were not selected though they had the required qualification and experience. “Most of us have experience of more than six years, which was required for the post. The interviewers deliberately did not select us,” alleged Santosh Kumar Mallick, an aspirant.

As per the notification, the minimum qualification needed for the post was matriculation with ITI in fittter/electrician trade or diploma in engineering in mechanical/chemical/ electrical discipline. Besides, the job also required minimum experience of six years in the desired sector.

The candidates alleged that the nine aspirants who were selected for the post did not even attend the interview. “We suspect that all these posts were fixed and the interview procedure was a formality, only to avoid suspicion,” alleged Hrudananda Mohapatra, another aspirant.

Hundreds of aspirants staged a demonstration and allegedly ransacked the guesthouse. The situation was brought under control after the intervention of police officials.

“Some of the candidates selected in the interview told us that they have paid Rs 3 lakh for the job. The interview should be conducted in a transparent matter so that eligible candidates get the job,” said another aspirant.

Plant authorities denied allegations of irregularities in the interview. “The interviewers selected the applicants on the basis of their merit and experience,” said deputy general manager (HR) of the steel plant, J.P. Mohapatra.