11,379 out of 2,28,073 candidates remained absent for Economics and Business Studies paper of II PUC examinations which commenced across the state on Friday.

68 candidates for Economics, and 11,311 students out of 2,27,453 enrolled for Business Studies remained absent.

61 freshers, 15 repeaters, and 2 private candidates remained absent for Economics paper on Friday. In Business Studies paper, 7,795 freshers, 475 private candidates and 2,492 repeaters were absent, revealed the data released by the preuniversity board of Karnataka.

According to the data, as much as 1,579 candidates remained absent only in Bengaluru while 739 were absent in Tumkur. In Kolar district as much as 592 candidates failed to appear for the exam and in Mysore 543 candidates remained absent. In Davangere and Hassan about 516 and 421 candidates remained absent respectively.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Hiremath who was arrested over posting provocative content on his WhatsApp status which led to communal unrest in Old Hubballi appeared for the exam and has returned to the jail, sources said. It is learned that the youth appeared for Business Studies paper under strict police surveillance.