TT: How do you feel being part of a sensitive probe with national ramifications?

Chothe: National Investigation Agency is probing the case. Ranchi police are merely cooperating with the agency. I’m doing what I have been asked to do. We are unearthing crucial links

Jharkhand’s capital has suddenly earned a spot on the national terror map. What do you want to tell shocked Ranchiites?

Ranchi police were not sleeping all these years. We arrested one of Indian Mujahideen’s top operatives Manjar Imam from the city this year

Did something go wrong with intelligence and beat policing?

We lack manpower for beat policing. On the bright side, our team is busting terror modules swiftly. We expect an Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) to form soon

What about newly formed special nine-member anti-terror squad?

We have been told the team will coordinate with NIA. Some best performers in the district police have been inducted

You led the team that recovered nine bombs from the Hindpiri hostel.

The police acted on intelligence inputs. Persons involved in hoarding explosives are directly connected with Patna blasts. Our crackdown against terror modules will continue

Now, more names are bandied about.

True, but the police don’t act on rumours. In the bomb recovery case (Hindpiri), the police zeroed in on a youth from Ormanjhi (Muzibullah Ansari) only after concrete evidence

Is terrorism a bigger challenge than Maoism?

Not as such. But we must be alert

Narendra Modi may address a rally in Ranchi as well. What lessons did you learn from Patna blasts?

Commenting on the Patna matter is beyond my jurisdiction. But (in the event Modi comes), Ranchi will have foolproof arrangement

But a number of Ranchi police stations lack basic infrastructure.

The department has identified the gaps. Results will soon be visible

How crucial is community policing?

Community policing needs to be strengthened. People should share information with police. We maintain strict confidentiality