Inspector General (IG) of police Palamau A Natarajan sits and works in a time worn official residence of DSP in Daltonganj town which is now the IG office sans any boundary wall and other infrastructural facility and a nearby bridge over NH 75 makes the office of the IG police Palamu most open to all kinds of eyes which in a Naxal-hit district is highly any desirable. Traffic noises do invade the IG office most prominently.
The walls of the DSP residence which is IG office now has old coat of yellow washing which bears a grim testimony that this residence has been left to bear the onslaughts of the seasons of Palamu. The IG police does his work silently and without making any parade of pain.
The IG talked to The Pioneer over many issues including election, National Highways, security of polling personnel, civilian drivers being used in poll duties and if choppers will be pressed this time too for transporting polling teams etc
You have been to Palamu as its IG police for just 4 days (Natarajan joined here on March 4 and The Pioneer met him on March 8) and there is this General Election. How prepared are you for its fair and peaceful conductIJ
My top priority right now is to ensure free, fair and peaceful poll here in this range which comprises three districts Garhwa, Palamu and latehar.
All these three districts are naxal infested and which of the three districts Garhwa Palamu and latehar gives you more worry from the Naxals’ point of viewIJ
It is latehar district. I am concerned much. The National Highways here are most vulnerable here. Naxals have history of creating troubles on NHs here like going for ambushing police parties, triggering land mines etc. Yes. My SPs have told me about this. (One NH 75 is barely 100 meters away from his office now).
In the 2009 election choppers were used to ferry polling parties and security personnel from Daltonganj to booths and back. Will this be done this election tooIJ
I will see what can be done . If choppers were used in ferrying polling parties last election then this ought to be available this time too. Civilian drivers are engaged to transport the security forces and in the last few elections these civilian drivers have fallen prey to Naxal attacks. loss of life of any one be he the cop or the civilian is a matter of extreme tragedy. Cops are as human beings as others. We will see what best can be done to avoid such a situation.