Patna, June 10: A complete ban has been imposed on carrying any firearm to Khopira, the village of slain Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh “Mukhiya”, on June 13, the day of his shradh (memorial service).

The decision assumes significance as intelligence reports suspect presence of some unscrupulous elements who may cause disturbances during the function.

Additional director-general (ADG) of police (law and order) S.K. Bhardwaj, along with inspector-general (Patna zone) Bhrigu Srinivasan, visited Ara, the district headquarters of Bhojpur, on Sunday and held meeting with senior administrative and police officers to review the security arrangements for the shradh.

The officers at the meeting, including Bhojpur district magistrate Pratima S. Varma, superintendent of police (SP) M.R. Naik and sub-divisional officer Dharmesh Kumar, decided to deploy 22 companies of anti-riot force and two-dozen magistrates to keep a close watch on the visitors at the function.

About 50,000 people are expected to attend Mukhiya’s shradh. Bhardwaj asked the Bhojpur SP to seal all the roads connecting Khopira. The SP has been instructed to carry out intensive vehicle checking on the 20-km stretch from Ara to Khopira and also on the main roads as a precautionary measure. “Carrying weapons to the village has been prohibited,” Bhardwaj told The Telegraph. He, however, made it clear that security personnel of VIPs would be allowed to carry their licenced weapons.

The ADG (law and order) expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements for the function. “Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the function,” he said, adding that policemen in plainclothes would be deputed at strategic points.

Meanwhile, the special investigation team (SIT) set up to probe Mukhiya’s murder has intensified its operation to arrest Abhay Pandey, the prime suspect in the case. Pandey is believed to have provided shelter to the assailants of the Ranvir Sena chief at his Katira house. Pandey’s house is at stone’s thrown from Mukhiya’s residence and also close to the site of murder.

Abhay is the nephew of Hareram Pandey, who is at present lodged in Buxar Central Jail. It is believed that the conspiracy to eliminate the Mukhiya was hatched in Bu-xar jail. All the senior police officers are tight-lipped over the investigation of the case.