Pankaj Kamboj

Hazaribagh, Nov. 25: Recognising the threat that rebels will pose during the panchayat election, Hazaribagh superintendent of police Pankaj Kamboj has asked his men to remain alert and work in co-ordination with officers of different paramilitary forces deployed in their areas to avoid getting trapped in Naxalite ambush.

In a recent letter to the officers in charge of all police stations under his jurisdiction, Kamboj said Maoists had attacked Pirtand police station and the block office in Giridih in August just to ascertain the actual strength of the security forces and to empty their ammunition.

Hazaribagh district has 2,501 polling booths and most are in sensitive areas. Sources said a large number of paramilitary personnel had been sought by the district administration to ensure peaceful polls. Kamboj has ensured they get more forces in comparison to the last general election, but less than the Assembly elections.

In the letter, Kamboj added that during the elections, paramilitary forces would be deployed in remote areas of the district. The SP warned his men to stay prepared for possible attacks by Maoists on paramilitary forces and asked them not to open fire in a hurry but to act wisely while handling the situation, which he claimed could be a trap to ascertain the strength of security forces.

Kamboj’s letter, which is in possession of The Telegraph, asked officers of all police stations not to send police parties for any action at night without verifying the message and examining the route. He asked the men to be extremely cautious to avoid getting involved in a landmine blast.

The SP directed the officers to gather all intelligence inputs about movement of rebels and share them with paramilitary forces to minimise risks.

Going by past casualties, Kamboj asked the men in khaki to minutely search routes passing through forest areas so as to avoid landmine traps. He did not rule out attacks on police establishments in rural areas to terrorise forces and disturb the polling process.