Ranchi: The SPs and commandants of three CRPF battalions were invited in a meeting of top police officials held on Thursday in Aurangabad in Bihar to plan security exercises to check the movement of Maoists and criminals ahead of the Bihar polls. They were also asked to start anti-Maoist operations along the identified Maoist pockets on border.
According to the Times of India report, the SPs of Palamu, Garhwa and Chatra districts were asked to look out for wanted criminals and Left-wing extremists along the Jharkhand-Bihar border ahead of the second phase of elections in Bihar.
The three districts share a long border with south-west Bihar which goes to polls on October 16 in the second phase.
Garhwa SP Priyadarshi Alok Kumar said that he was asked to beef up security along the border in the meeting. The Sone River divides Rohtas and Kaimur districts from Garhwa. "The river is the only connection between Bihar and Jharkhand in Garhwa. Several boats ply across the river bringing people across the two states," he said. The boats will be under watch now, Kumar added.
In the meeting, the SPs exchanged lists of notorious criminals in their areas who could pose a threat to the polls. It is usual for the criminals from Bihar to take shelter in Jharkhand and vice-versa.
"We provided the list of wanted criminals and Maoists in our areas to the Bihar police so that they can search and arrest them. Similarly, the Bihar police provided the list and details of the criminals and Maoists to us so that we can nab them. Arresting the criminals and Maoists will be important for peaceful and fearless elections," Palamu SP Mayur Patel Kanhaiyalal, who also participated in the meeting, said.
"The anti-Maoist operations will begin soon on both sides of the border. It is part of the area domination measures to prevent the Maoists from moving towards the state seeking shelter," an official said.
Apart from SP to SP contact and commandant to commandant contacts, police officials were asked to establish a smooth communication between police stations so that they can share intelligence inputs and act upon them for best results.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand has provided 10 companies of additional forces to Bihar for the elections. The 10 companies are made of Jharkhand Armed Police and India Reserve Battalion forces. The 10 companies left for Bihar by a special train on September 29.
"The forces will camp in Bihar according to the requirement of various districts and return only after the elections are over," police spokesperson S N Pradhan said.
