Quick mobile team members in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

One hundred and ten cops riding 55 motorcycles of the city police’s quick mobile squad mean action with Lok Sabha elections round the corner.

The squad is making all-out efforts to ensure foolproof security ahead of the election in Patna district. The teams are keeping tabs on activities of anti-social elements.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj said: “The quick mobile teams would patrol twice a day, between 7am and 10am, and from 5pm to 7pm.”

He added that many anti-social elements have been nabbed and illegal liquor dens busted at Chhajjubagh, Jakkanpur, Bahadurpur, Pirbahore, Sandalpur and other areas.

Sources said Naxalite-hit areas in the district, the recent terrorist strikes at Patna and Bodhgaya are also a cause of worry for the police. A senior police officer, on condition of anonymity, said: “After the arrest of Ziaur Rehman, alias Waqas, considered the right-hand man of top Indian Mujahideen functionary Yasin Bhatkal, who revealed that Narendra Modi was on their hitlist, upgrade of the security arrangement this election has become a challenge.”

Waqas was the mastermind of the serial bomb blasts at Gandhi Maidan during Narendra Modi’s rally on October 27 last year and he, along with Tahseen, alias Monu, and Haider, had jointly chalked out the plan for serial bomb blasts.

To keep tabs on activities of criminals, terrorists and Naxalites, companies of paramilitary forces and Special Auxiliary Force jawans have been posted in Naxalite-hit regions of Paliganj, Maner and Mashauri. Activities of anti-social elements and regular checking of vehicles is on. Police have asked the citizens to carry original documents of their vehicles while travelling. “Despite spreading awareness about security checks, many don’t carry valid documents of their vehicles. When intercepted, they argue with police,” added the officer.

To keep tabs on the use of funds in the election, the district administration, on the directives of the Election Commission, has asked people not to carry more than Rs 50,000 in cash. If anybody is caught violating that, he or she must give a valid explanation.

For riverine areas, riverside patrolling is on.

Security order

The district election officer-cum-district magistrate N. Saravana Kumar on Monday directed all sub-divisional officials to ensure extensive patrolling at major public platforms, including railway stations, airport and bus stands.