Shillong, July 24: Meghalaya police today put an end to a long-standing controversy by announcing the results of the recruitment test of constables for the 5th Meghalaya Police Battalion.

Inspector-general of police B.L. Buam today told the media that the results were declared after a proper and a detailed scrutiny. The interviews were held in October last year across the seven districts of the state. Buam replaced additional director-general of police Anil Pradhan as chairman of the recruitment board after the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) wrested power from the Congress-led alliance in the last Assembly elections.

Several candidates who appeared for the interviews had complained of nepotism and alleged that money changed hands as a result of which eligible candidates were deprived of jobs.

The state’s NGOs alleged that Pradhan, known to be loyal to the Congress, was favouring candidates close to a few Congress legislators, a charge that was denied by the MLAs when the matter was taken up for discussion in the Assembly. The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) had demanded a fresh recruitment drive. Buam today attributed the six-month delay in announcing the results to minute scrutiny at all levels to ensure that candidates get the jobs on their own merit. The names of those who tried to pass the test by unfair means had been deleted, he said. Of the 20,000 who had applied, 1,132 will be appointed as constables in the battalion.

Former deputy chief minister (in charge of home) Hopingstone Lyngdoh had said he was yet to receive the files from Pradhan.