Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Unprecedented security cover at exam venue

Staff Reporter

Following complaints of question paper leak during written tests conducted on two occasions in the past in the State

MADURAI: Unprecedented security measures were in place at the Armed Reserve Ground here where the written test to recruit men and women constables by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board was held on Saturday.

The passers-by on New Natham Road would have mistaken the huge posse of security personnel in and around the ground and hundreds of parents and relatives waiting outside it to some VVIP's visit.

The police officials were overcautious, for there were complaints of question paper leak during written tests conducted on two occasions in the past in the State. The Inspector General of Police, J.K. Tripathy, and the Deputy Inspector General (Madurai Range), S. Karunasagar, were present at the venue.

Apart from a speed-dome camera recording the proceedings at the examination venue, a handful of police personnel kept vigil on the candidates with binoculars. "Two of them were deployed atop a van to have a better view," the Madurai Superintendent of Police, T. Sundaresan, said.

The DIG, who is the also the Chairman of the Madurai range of the recruitment board, had chalked out a security plan with additional police personnel.

Being overcautious, the officials this time around, did not allow any police personnel below the rank of Inspector to enter the ground.

"No police constable was allowed to help the student with fetching drinking water during the examination time," Mr. Sundaresan, who is a member of the board, said.

This was to avoid unnecessary speculation of police personnel helping candidates in the examination.

Each Deputy Superintendent of Police was to look after five rows of candidates. "The inspectors were strictly warned not to stand anywhere, but to keep roaming around. They were asked not to talk to the candidates and have a glance at the answer scripts," Mr. Sundaresan said.

Call letters to 6,405 candidates — 5,037 men and 1,368 women — from the Madurai Range, comprising the revenue districts of Madurai and Virudhunagar and the city, were sent for the examination. However, 190 candidates, including 68 women, were absent, Virudhunagar SP S. Jeyachandran said.

The candidates appeared for the general knowledge and psychology tests on Saturday.

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