Meerut: In a major crackdown on examination malpractice, joint teams of the Special Task Force (STF) from Uttarakhand and Meerut have busted a cheating racket during the SSC MTS recruitment examination. Two alleged masterminds have been arrested in a coordinated operation.
According to officials, the accused have been identified as Nitish Kumar, a resident of Deoria in Uttar Pradesh, and Bhaskar Naithani, a resident of Dehradun. The arrests were made following specific intelligence inputs about high-tech cheating at an examination centre in Dehradun.
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has been conducting the Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) examination since February 4. During the exam at Mahadev Digital Zone centre in Dehradun, authorities received information about candidates allegedly being assisted through technical manipulation. Acting swiftly, STF teams launched a joint operation and apprehended the two suspects.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had installed a “master computer” at the examination centre and allegedly tampered with the system using local networking. They are suspected of setting up a proxy server to gain remote access and solve question papers from outside the exam hall.
During the raid, STF officials recovered four mobile phones, two laptops and an internet router from the accused. Initial findings suggest that these electronic devices were being used to facilitate external assistance to candidates during the examination.
Officials said further interrogation has indicated the possible involvement of additional individuals in the racket. The seized electronic devices have been sent for forensic examination to uncover the full extent of the network and identify other conspirators.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to ensuring fair and transparent recruitment examinations and warned of strict action against those attempting to compromise the integrity of government job tests.
