Hazaribag police start preparations

HAZARIBAG: The district police department on Tuesday began the process of identifying sensitive polling areas and gauging Maoist activities in Hazaribag for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
The move comes on the heels of a directive issued by the Election Commission. SP Manoj Kaushik on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting with DSPs, circle inspectors, OCs and other officials and asked them to visit booths and submit their report to the district police headquarters within a week.
The list of sensitive areas will be sent to the Election Commission for planning deployment of security personnel and central force.
Kaushik directed police officials to find out the present status of extremist problem in Hazaribag district. A recent intelligence report submitted to EC showed Khunti, Gumla, Giridih, Latehar and Palamu as worst Maoist-affected places in Jharkhand.
"I have directed all police officials to visit and verify sensitive booths and prepare route maps and submit the reports accurately. I also directed OCs to verify the list of trouble-mongers previously booked under sections 107,108 and 109 of the IPC and take action against all the warranties and start proceedings," said Kaushik.
Meanwhile, DC Sunil Kumar said for the first time this year elections would be monitored online and directed the officials to start training programme for the same.
There are about 64,000 new voters in the Hazaribag Lok Sabha constituency taking the total number to over 14 lakh. Number of polling stations will be 1,782 as against 1,642 in the 2009 general elections.