A group of police officers in Kochi came to the rescue of a NEET aspirant on Sunday after she arrived at her examination centre without the passport-sized photographs required for verification.
Sana Jose, a student from Vypin, had reached Government Higher Secondary School, Punnakkal in Elamakkara to appear for the NEET re-examination. However, during the mandatory document verification process, she realised that she had forgotten to bring the passport-sized photographs needed to gain entry into the examination hall.
The oversight left the student distressed, as candidates without the required documents are not permitted to sit for the examination. For Sana, who had already endured the uncertainty caused by the earlier cancellation of the NEET exam following a paper leak controversy, the situation was particularly upsetting.
Noticing her anxiety, Civil Police Officers Aswathy and Chinju stationed at the examination centre stepped in to help. They initially tried contacting Sana’s uncle, who had dropped her off at the venue, but were unable to reach him.
Speaking about the incident, CPO Aswathy said that Sana had come directly from a hospital, and her uncle had reportedly left in a hurry due to an emergency medical situation, making it impossible for him to return with the photographs.
As reported by Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 Radio Station, the officers quickly escalated the matter to Sub-Inspector Lalu Joseph of Elamakkara Police Station in an effort to find a solution before the examination began.
Acting swiftly, the police team contacted several photo studios in the nearby Punnakkal and Pottakuzhy areas. However, being a Sunday afternoon, most studios were closed. With time running out, the officers continued searching for alternatives.
Their efforts paid off when Binu, owner of Zion Studio near Deshabhimani Junction, agreed to help. Binu, who also serves as the inquest photographer for Elamakkara Police Station, immediately opened his studio after learning about the student’s predicament.
A postcard-sized photograph of Sana was sent to the studio through Civil Police Officer Mahesh. Using the photograph, passport-sized copies were quickly prepared and delivered back to the examination centre.
The photographs were submitted in time for verification, allowing Sana to complete the formalities and enter the examination hall to write her exam.
The timely intervention by the police officers and the photographer ensured that a simple mistake did not cost the student an opportunity to appear for one of the country’s most important entrance examinations, turning what began as a stressful day into a heartwarming example of community support and quick action.
