In view of the upcoming lok Sabha elections, the police establishments of the three States, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand have decided to set up additional check post and increase vigil in the bordering areas to ensure peaceful elections.
Police heads from Midnapore, West Bengal, Jhargram, Rairangpur, Odisha and East Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharsawan participated in the meeting at XlRI to chalk out strategy. Amol V Homkar, SP East Suinbghbhum, said that issues concerning ensuring free and peaceful elections were discussed during the meeting.
“The General elections are an important event in the country and we want to ensure the safety and security of the candidates as well as the voters. During the meeting we have agreed to exchange of information on movements of rebels and criminals. The borders with Odisha and West Bengal will be sealed to ensure no untoward incident takes place,” he said.
“The three States are Naxal infested areas. The ultras act in one State and easily cross and hide in another State. We have to work together especially during polls and share intelligence and records of ultras so that they could be flushed out. We are confident that we will keep a vigil on the ultras and make such arrangements that the elections would be peaceful,” said another police official.
Revealing about the meeting, Homkar said that today’s meeting was meant to review the administrative preparedness for holding the lok Sabha elections. He said instruction has been issued to ensure that the criminal elements may be rounded up before the elections.
“We are working on initiating extensive and comprehensive measures to provide a peaceful atmosphere to the voters so that they turn up at the polling booths in large number and exercise their franchise without fear,” said NK Singh SP West Singhbhum. According to information, since the three neighbouring States have been worst hit by the Naxal activities, the police administrations have agreed exchange of the list of naxalites and criminals and check Maoists intrusion into Jharkhand during election time.
A senior police official said: “At the time when the election will be held next month, joint operation of police and paramilitary is all essential as rebels will tend to concentrate on the Singhbhum side of the border during the time. The joint anti-insurgency operation at Patamda,Dalma and Ghatshila region will keep the area largely free from activities of Naxals in the wake of the elections.”