Patna: A special operation group (SOG) has been formed to contain rising incidents of murder, loot and extortion in areas falling under Naubatpur and Bihta police stations in Patna.

The areas under the two police stations have witnessed a spurt in crime incidents in the past few months.

The SOG comprising efficient police officers was formed after directives from Patna zonal inspector-general (IG) Nayyar Hasnain Khan, who reviewed the law-and-order situation at a meeting with senior police officers in Patna, on Friday.

Deputy inspector-general (DIG) Rajesh Kumar, senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj and other senior police officers, who were at the meeting, also felt the need of an SOG.

"A dedicated team of police officers has been furnished a list of criminals operating under the two police stations. They will start work at the earliest," said DIG Rajesh.

The team included deputy superintendent of police (Phulwari) Ramakant Prasad, Anil Kumar Singh assistant superintendent of police (operations), Ranjit Kumar Singh, the station house officer of Bihta and Ramakant Tiwari, the station house officer of Naubatpur.

The criminals on the radar of the SOG are Manoj, Manik, Abhishek alias Muckchund, Guddu, Rakesh Kumar, William, Prakash Kumar, Anish and Ritesh Kumar.

It has been made mandatory for all assistant sub-inspectors and inspectors posted at the police stations to have licensed pistols or revolvers. The members of the SOG have been directed to get the licensed firearms issued in their names from the new policelines in the next two days.

In addition 100 quick mobile teams have been set up to keep surveillance on criminals targeting senior citizens and women during peak business hours.

The setting up of the SOG assumes importance as the police are yet to find any lead in the Naubatpur drug trader Pradeep Kumar alias Dipu murder case.

On June 20, Pradeep, 45, the owner of Ragni Medical Shop at Naubatpur Bazaar, was shot dead by criminals around 10pm.

After downing shutters when Pradeep was returning home six criminals on two motorcycles opened fire at Pradeep around 500m from his shop at Ara Machine area.