In view of Naxal attack at Dumka on Tuesday, the police in East Singhbhum district and adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district have embarked on long-range patrolling (lRP) in the rebel-infested areas. The police and para-military forces have unearthed two powerful improvised explosive device (IED) from Ghura village in East Singhbhum during an lRP.
All the police stations in the three districts of the division including East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharswan are on alert and patrolling has been intensified. "Appropriate arrangements have been made to meet any threat from the ultras. We have asked the authorities to keep a check and beefed up," noted an official.When contacted Seraikela-Kharsawan superintendent of police, Indrajit Mahtha said that keeping in yesterday's incident in Pakur steps are being taken to deal with any untoward incident.
" At areas like Kuchai, Chandil and Chowka lRP has been intensified. We will keep the police and para-military forces in the adjoining East Singhbhum and West Singhbhum districts also well-informed about our operation," said Mahtha.Significantly, the SP informed that four days ago they had got a tip off that over 150 suspected naxals had gathered at Dalma hills.
"We have started a search operation, but there was no trace of any gathering as such. But it is possible that the rebels might have sneaked into the neighbouring Purulia district of Bengal where Panchayat elections is round the corner," said the Seraikela-Kharsawan district SP. Similarly, the East Singhbhum senior superintendent of police, Richard lakra noted that even the suspicious people moving on the streets are checked. "The police are carrying out their routine duty however, extra caution is being maintained in the aftermath incident but, as part of our agenda we are involving the tribals at large to earn their confidence and check the naxalite activities," conceded lakra.
Sources informed that apart from ensuring deployment of addition police and paramilitary forces, the operations and patrolling had been intensified to check the possibility of entry of Maoists from neighbouring states. Strict vigil is being kept in Maoist-affected pockets of the district including Dumaria, Bodam and Potka.
The forces have started frisking commuters in the bordering areas. At some places common people are also being interrogated by police and paramilitary force on suspicion. Forces have been deployed in strategic locations.