To ensure fair exam, Rajasthan cuts mobile internet links for 2 days

JAIPUR: Mobile internet services were suspended and security was on ‘high alert’ across Rajasthan for the two-day re-examination for 13,142 constable posts that began on Saturday.

Over 14 lakh candidates — 7 lakh on Saturday and a similar number today — are taking the test at 644 centres in a “riot-ready” security atmosphere even as people vented their ire for being not able to use mobile internet services. When the same exam was held in March, it had to be cancelled due to “organised cheating”. A police investigation found that mafias arranged impersonators and provided question papers before the test.

Jaipur city, where 209 examination centres have been set up, was most affected by the suspension of net services. “The last time I faced such an ordeal was last September when there was tension in Ramganj and internet services were suspended,” said Sarita Sharma, a Jaipur resident.

Cheating mafia had rigged an earlier test held in March, forcing Rajasthan to scrap the exam. A relentless operation, which began two weeks ago, to nab the cheating gangs resulted in the arrest of 50 suspects.

So, the police department walked the extra mile this time around to assure a “cheating-free” recruitment process even though it amounted to “high-handedness” that caused large-scale disruption in internet communication.

This time around, the police followed a strict advisory in allowing entry to exam halls. At several centres, aspirants wearing full-sleeve shirts had to give in to cops’ demand to cut sleeves into half. Many male students wrote the examination in vests.

Female aspirants were strictly directed to remove their jewellery, forcing many to visit the nearest jewellery shops to cut their nose rings. Shiv Narayan, a candidate, said he was given entry only after he removed his shirt. The students were also directed to keep their footwear outside the exam room. ADGP Rajeev Sharma said the first day of the exam went peacefully.