Patna, Sept. 10: The special operations against the Maoists and the criminal gangs involved in serious offences are likely to gain momentum from next week after the arrival of the central paramilitary forces (CPMF) for the polls.

The state police headquarters devised a detailed strategy of the special operations at a meeting chaired by the director-general of police (DGP) Pramod Kumar Thakur soon after announcement of the dates of the Assembly elections.

The nodal officers assigned to cooperate with the representatives of the state election department were also present at the meeting, which reviewed the preventive steps initiated by the police to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls.

"The operations against the Maoists and the criminal gangs involved in organised crime will be intensified from next week. We hope to get additional companies of the CPMF for the pre-election operations by September 15," additional director-general of police (law and order) Alok Raj said today.

Raj added that the security forces would mainly focus their attention on the riverine belt and the Naxalite-hit villages during the special operations.

"Mounted Military Police and motorised boats would also be used for carrying out search operations," he told The Telegraph.

Sources in the police headquarters said the Union ministry of home affairs has agreed to provide 500 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Security Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal for the election.

The sources said around 200 companies of the CPMF would reach Bihar from September 18 and 19 to hold advance liaisoning meetings and conduct area-domination operations. The first two phases of polling on October 12 and 16 would be held in Naxalite-hit south Bihar and would pose tough challenge, a senior MHA official said.

The official added that the local police and other forces would be trained in identifying and defusing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), especially in the Maoist-hit districts. "Often, a new force that enters a state during elections is targeted by Maoists," he revealed.

To thwart their sinister designs, the central armed forces would have daily intelligence sharing with the local policemen and intensify patrolling in hypersensitive areas. "Since the central forces are not aware of topography of the area, the Maoists find it easy to attack them," the officer added.

ADG (law and order) Raj said directives had been issued to all the superintendents of police to send reports on police operations to the police headquarters on a day-to-day-basis. "The office of the state chief electoral officers will also be updated about police action," he said.

Referring to Thursday's police action, Raj said the Bhagalpur police unearthed a mini gun factory under the jurisdiction of Goradih police station and seized a number of finished and semi-finished illegal weapons. A suspected gunrunner identified as Mohammed Saheb was also arrested, he added.

In Kaimur district, a hardcore Maoist, identified as Sunil Ram, was arrested from Adhaura police station area with a double-barrel gun, one country-made pistol and three live cartridges. Ram is a native of Chandauli district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, ADG Raj said.