Supporters pay tribute to Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh ‘Mukhiya’ at Khopira village in Bhojpur on Wednesday during his memorial service. Picture by Manish

Three armed persons were detained on Wednesday while they were going to Khopira village in Bhojpur district to attend the last rites of murdered Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh “Mukhiya”.

Three licensed revolvers and 68 live cartridges were found on them during frisking. The district administration imposed a ban on carrying firearms as a precautionary measure in the wake of the last rites of Singh.

Sahar police station house officer (SHO) Ram Naresh Singh said three supporters of Singh were detained after they were found moving around with licensed arms. “We have lodged a complaint against the three and started investigation to ascertain the motive behind carrying the arms,” he said.

The SHO said a strict vigil was maintained on the people going to Khopira, the native village of Singh. All the link roads were sealed and vehicles proceeding towards Khopira were searched.

“The policemen deployed at sensitive areas were instructed to take action against those found to be moving suspiciously,” he said.

Sources in the state police headquarters said around 3,000 policemen from Bhojpur and its adjoining districts were deployed at Khopira and its adjoining villages, considered vulnerable from the security point of view after Singh’s murder.

Deputy inspector-general (Shahabad range) Ajitabh Kumar monitored the situation. He camped at Khopira, a senior police officer said.

Bhojpur district magistrate Pratima S. Varma said 10 companies of anti-riot police force, one company of the central paramilitary force, three units of Special Task Force and 600 armed policemen were deployed.

Metal detectors and video cameras were installed at 30 entry points of the district, she said, adding that three control rooms were set up at Sandesh, Pawna and Sahar police stations. Magistrates manned them.

The district magistrate said 41 cluster points were identified for deployment of security forces, while 15 patrolling parties were pressed into service.

“The decision on the deployment of security forces was taken at a high-level meeting of senior civil and police officers in consultation with the state government,” she said.

The DIG said the decision to depute such a large number of security personnel was taken in the wake of intelligence reports that some unscrupulous elements might attempt to create disturbances on the occasion. The borders of the districts were sealed and policemen were deployed at all entry and exit points to prevent any untoward incident, he added.

Late in the night, the DIG described the situation as peaceful. “There is nothing to worry. Everything is fine. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the purpose,” he said, adding that metal detectors and other electronic gadgets were being used to keep surveillance on the visitors.

Till 6pm, over 30,000 people from neighbouring districts, including Rohtas, Kaimur, Buxar, Patna, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Arwal, came to participate in the memorial service.

The BJP state president, C.P. Thakur, animal and fish resources department minister Giriraj Singh and MPs Sunil Kumar and Meena Singh were prominent among the politicians who paid homage to the departed soul.

Indubhushan, the son of the slain Ranvir Sena chief, has been given the command of the outfit as well as that of the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtrawadi Kisan Sangathan.