The state administration is drawing up a list of troublemakers in every police station area to keep tabs on them. Stringent action could be taken against them during exigencies.

The state police headquarters, after receiving “valuable tips” from chief minister Nitish Kumar on law and order on August 22, has faxed all superintendents of police (SPs) asking them to undertake the listing exercise.

The SPs, including those posted with Government Railway Police, have been asked to send the list of troublemakers to the additional director-general (law and order) by September 10. “Those failing to meet the deadline would have to face the consequences,” the message from the director-general of police (DGP)’s office said.

The motive behind the new order, a senior police officer said, is to ensure that the process of filling up bond papers by communal persons under Section 107 of the CrPC could be completed on time. Under Section 107 of the CrPC, suspected troublemakers have to take a pledge in writing before a judicial magistrate that he/she would not indulge in any act that would cause law and order problem.

Moreover, the list would help the headquarters keep close surveillance on such persons before important festivals. “During festivals, such elements often try to exploit the situation and give a simple incident to a communal shape, causing serious law and order problem for the state administration,” the officer said.

Copies of the new directive have also been sent to the additional director-general (special branch) and the additional director-general (railways). Subsequently, the SPs forwarded the message to the station house officers (SHOs) concerned, asking them to send the list of such persons to the offices of the district police chiefs at the earliest.

The field officers have been asked to accord top priority to the listing task and provide them to the officer concerned at the headquarters on time. “The directive should be accorded the highest priority,” the DGP’s message said.

Sources in the police headquarters said the directive assumed significance following a spurt in incidents of communal tension in the recent past, mostly from Rohtas, Darbhanga, Purnea, Sheohar, Vaishali, Aurangabad, Patna, East Champaran and Saran districts. Sources said there is a separate gunda register at the police station, carrying detailed information about communal persons.

The register is maintained by the police station in-charge concerned according to the police manual, they added. The DGP’s fresh directive is, however, silent on the gunda register.