Taking strict action against those involved in alleged suspicious activities and irregularities during the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET)-2021, the state government suspended two senior officials and 13 employees of the education department, an official said on Tuesday.

In Sawai Madhopur district, Wazirpur, Sub-Divisional Officer Narendra Kumar Meena (RAS) and two RPS officers Narayan Tiwari and Rajulal Meena have been suspended, he said.

Thirteen employees of the education and three policemen were also suspended, the official said.

The role of thirteen employees of the education department was found suspicious during the conduct of the exam held on Sunday. Therefore, they were suspended after FIRs were registered against them, School Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra said.

He said the employees will be terminated from service after allegations are found true in police investigation.

Those suspended included 10 teachers, one lecturer, one physical education teacher and one junior assistant. They were posted in Sirohi, Jalore, Barmer, Nagaur, Dungarpur, Rajsamand, Bharatpur and Bundi districts.

Special arrangements were made to prevent fraudulent activities during the examination for which 16.51 lakh candidates had enrolled.

During the exam, police had arrested several dummy candidates and gang members who were facilitating cheating in different districts, according to officials. 

Ahead of the exam, Rajasthan faced shutdown of all internet services on Sunday owing to the examination. Abhay Kumar, principal secretary, Home, had written to the state, divisional and district officials to take a call on suspending internet services to establish stringent law and order, and to prevent fraudulent activities and cheating during the exam.

“About 16 lakh students will participate in REET 2021 and will travel from one district to another. In such a situation, there is a possibility of deteriorating law and order situation due to fake news, rumours of accidents, paper leak, etc,” he wrote. Thus, keeping in mind the Central government’s 2017 notification on “public safety” and “public emergency”, Kumar had asked the Divisional Commissioners to take a call on suspending internet services.

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