Patna, May 13: Helicopters would be pressed into service to keep an eye on the movement of Maoists in the last two phases of the elections to local bodies in Bihar. Majority of the polling stations in the 9th and 10th phases — to be held on May 15 and 18 — are located in the Naxalite-affected districts.

Director-general of police (DGP) Neel Mani said that extra vigil would be maintained on the activities of the rebels on Bihar-Jharkhand border in the last round of panchayat elections. The borders of the two neighbouring states have already been sealed, he said.

Choppers carrying personnel of the COBRA battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force would be pressed into service to keep aerial surveillance on the polling stations located in Rohtas, Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui and Banka districts. Elections are to be held in Dumaria, Imamganj, Banke Bazar in Gaya, Nabinagar, Kutumba and Madanpur in Auragabad, Rohtas and Nauhatta in Rohtas, Khaira and Jhajha polices stations in Jamui and Chhauradano and Chakia in East Champaran districts, which are considered to be the worst Naxalite-affected areas. The state police headquarters has deployed six additional commandants of the Bihar Military Police to assist the superintendents of police and deputy inspector-generals inthe region. These officials would remain stationed at Gaya, Rohtas and Aurangabad, the DGP said, adding that 30 additional deputy superintendents of police have been deputed.

He said additional resources like anti-landmine vehicles, bullet-proof jackets, latest weapons and satellite phones would be provided to these security personnel. ”We are in touch with the senior officials of the CRPF. The Jharkhand police officials have also assured to cooperate with us,” Neel Mani added.

The DGP said that home guard jawans would not be deployed at the polling stations. ”All the polling stations will be manned by the personnel of the special auxiliary police,” he said, adding that the process of mobilisation of the police force was already underway.