Police in the Naxal dominated South Chotanagpur Division have their task cut-out especially in the wake of growing Naxal attack on police forces elsewhere and the challenge to ensure peaceful General Elections in the five districts incidentally known for high presence of anti-establishment forces.
In a review meeting of all Superintendents of Police (SP) of South Chotanagpur districts conducted on Wednesday at Ranchi, DIG Pravin Kumar issued specific instructions on booth mapping to ascertain the degree of sensitivity of booths, taking preventive actions against Naxal supporters and ensuring that communication networks are not exploited by unlawful entities to disrupt peace during elections.
As per the instructions issued, police of all five districts have been asked to physically map all booths to know whether the booth is under their control and verify whether route chart to a booth has been made or not. The verification has to be done by Station House Officer (SHO), Inspector and Deputy Superintendent of Police. The sensitivity of booths will also be determined by the presence of Naxals, nature of candidate contesting election and political rivalry, if any, in a particular area.
“We have received list of sensitive booths however there is a need to review to prepare a final list. I have instructed for 100 per cent physical mapping of booths,” said the DIG. The DIG hinted at shifting of hypersensitive booths which will depend on the availability of security forces. Notably, availability of security forces and their judicious use during elections was also discussed with all SPs.“They must have made their plans against troops but we are prepared to deal with them,” continued Kumar.
Police is likely to use two pronged strategy to nullify disruptive forces during the General Election-2014. Sensing the need to sever the information network of naxals, the police will crackdown the sources of information for Naxals besides ensuring that mobile service providers strict to the guidelines for issuing new connections and taking appropriate action against representatives of service providers for any violation of the guideline. Police will also monitor activities of criminals and will keep an eye on those with criminal antecedents but no ongoing criminal cases against them.
“We will ask those who are involved in supplying information for want of money or any other reason to stop the activity and will initiate legal actions against them under provisions of Crime Control Act,” pointed out Kumar. Significantly, following murder of AJSU party leader Tileshwar Sahu, the DIG has issued specific instructions to review security of political leaders and threats on party candidates and make necessary adjustments in the security cover of the leaders. Respective SPs have been instructed to discuss security cover to leaders with District Security Committee, Deputy Commissioners and officials of Special Branch.
“Our priority is to ensure that no political leader or a person associated with party suffers during elections,” concluded the DIG.