PATNA: There was shame in store for Bihar as images emerged of large-scale cheating by students in the state board exams.

What's worse, instead of taking strict action, the state education minister PK Shahi tried to shrug off government's responsibility by saying, "the government is helpless to stop the dishonest practices unless parents and students cooperate for the same".

Tall claims of the Bihar School Examination Board of conducting free, fair and peaceful examinations fell flat as students were seen openly cheating at various centres.

Shocking visuals of parents and relatives scaling three to four storey exam centres to pass on chits to their wards added to the shame.

At several centres, police personnel failed to stop them while at some they are seen even helping in the cheating.