Patna, Feb 24 (IANS) A total of 412 students caught cheating in Class 12 exams were expelled in Bihar on Wednesday and dozens of people who helped them to cheat have been arrested, officials said.

"The students were expelled on charge of adopting unfair means," a Bihar School Examination Board official said.

The highest number of students caught cheating and expelled was 40 in Sheikhpura district followed by 29 in Jehanabad district and 17 in Rohtas district.

The authorities have decided to take tough measures to conduct cheating-free exams.

Around 70,000 officials, including teachers and policemen, have been deployed to hold free and fair exams, said Hariharnath Jha, an official of the Bihar School Examination Board.

The examination centres would be monitored by CCTV cameras.

To curb mass cheating, the authorities have decided to impose a fine of up to Rs.10,000 on students found using unfair means and punish the guardians found helping their children to cheat.

Parents, guardians or friends found helping students to cheat would be sent to jail.

Nearly 11.60 lakh students appeared for Class 12 exams at 1,109 centres across the state on Wednesday.

Students caught cheating would be expelled for three years. Earlier, the board debarred them only for a year, Jha said.