Ranchi/Bokaro/Hazaribag/Jamshedpur/Chatra: With around 36,000 candidates set to appear for the NEET-UG re-examination across eight cities and nearly 90 centres in the state on Sunday, the administration has rolled out an extensive, multilayered security plan to ensure a glitch-free, fair and malpractice-free exam.The state police headquarters has issued detailed directives to all districts to sanitise routes for secure transportation of question papers and answer sheets between strong rooms and exam centres. Authorities have also been asked to closely monitor social media to prevent rumour-mongering and act promptly against miscreants.Special emphasis has been laid on heightened surveillance of hotels, lodges, hostels, coaching institutes, cyber cafes and xerox shops. Districts have been directed to set up control rooms, while police and magistrates will ensure strict frisking and physical verification of candidates to prevent them from taking in electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, Bluetooth devices and smartwatches. In Ranchi, 21 centres have been set up, with static and zonal magistrates deployed for round-the-clock monitoring.In Bokaro, a special drive led by DSP (city) Rajeev Ranjan saw police teams inspect hotels and lodges in the City Centre area. Guest identities were verified and registers checked, with operators instructed not to allot rooms without valid ID proof and to immediately report suspicious activity. The DSP said the initiative aims to ensure a “peaceful, fair and malpractice-free environment”, adding that such inspections will continue till the exam begins.Hazaribag, which was at the centre of last year’s paper leak controversy, has witnessed intensified scrutiny. Acting on directions of deputy commissioner Hemant Sati, teams led by SDPO Rupak Kumar Singh and DSP Armanul Haque conducted late-night inspections of multiple hotels, verifying records and directing operators to maintain strict vigilance. The district will witness 3,000 candidates write the exam at 9 centres, with prohibitory orders imposed within 100 metres under Section 163 of BNSS. Sati said, “Officials have been instructed to strictly enforce frisking and monitoring protocols.”In Jamshedpur, 4,322 candidates will appear at 8 centres. East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan has ordered stringent frisking, crowd control and traffic regulation. Prohibitory orders under BNSS have been enforced within 200 metres of centres, with violations to attract action under Section 223 of BNS. Entry of heavy vehicles will remain restricted from 11 am to 9 pm.Chatra district is also fully prepared, with 434 candidates scheduled to appear at a single centre. DC Ravi Anand reviewed arrangements including CCTV monitoring, medical support and basic facilities.Authorities reiterated that any attempt to disrupt the examination process will invite strict action.(With inputs from Sanjay Sahay, Vishvendu Jaipuriar, Abhijit Sen, B Sridhar & Divy Khare)