LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH: UP authorities, on Saturday, said that they have arrested more than 120 people in the past two days for using or attempting to use unfair means in the in the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board Exam for recruitment of constables. DGP Prashant Kumar said among the 122 arrested in total, 15 were in Etah, nine each in Mau, Prayagraj and Siddharthanagar, eight in Ghazipur, seven in Azamgarh, six in Gorakhpur, five in Jaunpur, four in Firozabad, three each in Kaushambi and Hathras, two each in Jhansi, Varanasi, Agra and Kanpur, and one each in Ballia, Deoria and Bijnor.

The arrests were made between February 15 and 17. In certain cases, the candidates were caught using chits. In others, individuals were caught impersonating candidates or attempting to dupe them.

In Etah, the accused were arrested by a surveillance team of the Kotwali police station and subsequently questioned. The authorities have, thus far, refused to comment on the method that the group of people were planning to use for the exam. 

In another case in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district, a man named Saleem Ansari was arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from individuals looking to take the exam which he promised they would pass. Upon his arrest, Ballia police also seized Rs 8.99 lakh which Ansari had allegedly taken from different individuals appearing in the constable recruitment exam. 

Police and local administration across the state are on alert due to the exam being held on Saturday and Sunday.

District Magistrate (DM) Prem Ranjan Singh said, "Senior administrative officials along with the local police are taking all measures to successfully conduct the police recruitment exam and ensure that no unfair means are used."

With inputs from PTI.