Net suspended for 'cheating-free' constable exams

Normal life was hit in Pink City and the other major cities of Rajasthan on Saturday after the administration suspended internet services for the police constable exams in which 14 lakh candidates at 664 centres across the state appeared for 13,142 posts.

In an attempt to ensure "cheating-free" police constable examinations on Saturday and Sunday, mobile internet services were suspended for nine hours between 8 am to 5 pm.

The internet ban in Jaipur and other cities brought the life of the common man to a standstill and inconvenienced lakhs of people who had nothing to do with the recruitment process.

On Friday evening, Divisional Commissioner of Jaipur T Ravikant ordered a temporary ban on the internet services from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

In Jaipur alone, there are 220 exam centres. However, the suspension of mobile internet services created an outrage in the city with commuters, cabs, banks, passengers and locals bearing the burnt.

"I reached Amber Fort with my friends on Saturday morning. The entry tickets were in my mailbox and due to barred internet services, I was unable to access the tickets. I had to purchase fresh tickets for the entire group of 14 tourists accompanying me", said Nick O'man, who is travelling across Rajasthan with a group of 14 travellers from different countries.

Joy Bose, who was in Jaipur for a business trip, said, "I had no idea that internet will be banned all through the day in Jaipur. It has created a lot of inconveniences as we could not travel using the cab service. With no internet, I was unable to access some important emails," said.

Taking a dig at the ruling BJP, the Opposition Congress on Saturday called the administration a toothless tiger.

"Its the job of the police and administration to curb a menace to ensure that the common man's rights are not taken for a ride. Nowadays everyone is dependent on the internet and so the untimely ban affected everyone. This step of the Rajasthan Police clearly hints at the lawlessness in the state," said Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma.

Calling the internet ban a sign of loose administration, P L Raiger, former controller of examination at Rajasthan University said, "Banning internet for an examination is ridiculous and the first time the Rajasthan Police has attempted. It would have been better if the authorities had rather concentrated on hiring more test invigilators and x-ray machines to ensure students don't carry mobile phones inside the hall."

The Rajasthan Police took the step after the recruitment examinations were cancelled in March this year by the Special Operations Group (SOG). The SOG busted gangs involved in facilitating cheating at several examination centres by remotely hacking into computers.

The police have so far arrested over two dozen suspects reported to have duped candidates on the pretext of offering them guaranteed selections in the final list.