Gaya: The rising crime graph, particularly urban crime including a series of heists, robberies and daylight snatching has posed challenges for Rajiv Mishra, the new Gaya SSP, believes activist S.B. Bhaskar.

With the government nearly in election mode, coping with political pressure and interference would be the biggest challenge for Mishra, he added.

Mishra will be required to monitor the politically sensitive case registered against Gaya MP Hari Manjhi's son Rahul Manjhi. Junior Manjhi allegedly a repeat offender, faces charges under Section 37 of the Prohibition Act 2016.

If found guilty, he could be punished for seven years' RI, said legal experts.

According to those familiar with the internal intrigues of the state police, being the son-in-law of DGP KS Dwivedi would put Mishra under more than normal public glare. DGP Dwivedi has several critics, both in the police force as well as political parties.

According to a senior police officer, family connections have no role to play in the 2010 batch IPS officer's posting, for whom the 31 police stations in Gaya district with a formidable Naxalite presence is a challenging assignment. "Mishra is unlikely to make compromises," said an IG-level officer in the state.

According to the political grapevine, in the coming months, Gaya will remain on the radar of both the NDA and the UPA as former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is said to be eying the seat. Runner up of the 1991 parliamentary election, Manjhi badly lost the seat in the 2014 election as the JDU candidate. His aides say that the ex-CM is almost desperate to reach Lok Sabha via Gaya. "Policing during a period of political strife becomes much more difficult," said a retired IPS officer.

To add to the new SSP's challenges, most of his immediate juniors/subordinates, including the city DSP, the Tekari SDPO and the Sherghati SDPO too, are new to the place. According to former IG MA Kazmi, Mishra's immediate boss, the Magadh range DIG Vinay Kumar knows Gaya district inside out as he had been the SSP of the district earlier.

Zonal IG Naiyyar Hasnain Khan too, has been the Magadh Range DIG and as such, Mishra can rely on the experience and knowledge of Khan, said a serving officer of the Bihar police.

Besides the Maoist menace in the southern part of the district sharing a border with neighbouring Jharkhand, the new SSP will also have to rein in the sand mafia that has been very active in the district.