HYDERABAD, May 16: Two inspectors-general, several deputy inspectors-general, superintendents of police, DSPs, nearly 500 station house officers and 10,000 policemen, complete the list of Andhra police personnel in-charge of conducting a fool-proof Intermediate examinations.

Following leakage of question papers which forced cancellation of exams, the Andhra government has put on duty a large number of police personnel including men from the Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP).

Question papers of engineering, agriculture examinations and medicine common entrance test (EAMCET) were also leaked last year. The cases have been handed over to the crime investigation wing of the State police.

The Board of Intermediate Education postponed the Intermediate second year examinations to May 27, while the first year examinations are being held from May 13.

These policemen guard the question papers from the printing stage. Vehicles transporting the question papers to Board of Intermediate Education are accompanied by a huge contingent and sealing of bundles are done under the watchful eyes of senior police officials. The question papers are then shifted to nearly 500 different police stations for safe custody till the day of the exam. To plug the loopholes, three sets of question papers are printed for each subject and one set is selected by lottery every morning in presence of Higher Education Minister, GMC Balayogi, and senior police officials an hour before the commencement of the exam.

Probably for the first time, the police communication network and All India Radio have been involved in the conduct of the examinations. The code number of the question paper picked is transmitted over the police wireless.

Station house officers, who receive the news in presence of Intermediate Board officials, ensure that the officials pick the question paper bundle with the code number and take it to the examination centre half-an-hour before the commencement of the exam.All India Radio has also come to the rescue of State Government by accepting to announce the code number in the morning news bulletin.

Nearly 5,000 policemen keep vigil at the 951 examination centres. The students as well as invigilators are thoroughly checked before entering the examination hall.

The answer scripts are redistributed to the valuation centres in different parts of the State.

Accused surrenders

The main accused in the intermediate question paper leakage scandal, Ramabrahmam, today surrendered before the police at Mangalagiri town in Guntur district.

Ramabrahmam, who carried a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, gave himself up before the CB-CID officials, after eluding police drag-net for over a month.

A Congress councillor of Chilakaluripet municipality in Guntur district, Ramabrahmam had allegedly masterminded the leakage of question papers .

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.