The dugdugi helped them nab absconders in 2011. Patna police will roll it out again, this time to ensure verification of tenants by landlords.

Sources said police stations have been asked to arrange for a drummer, who will move around, with some policemen, beating the dugdugi (a small drum used to draw attention) and requesting people to get their tenants verified.

Last December, the city police claimed that forms for tenant verification, uploaded on Patna police site, www.patnapolice.bih.nic.in, had found takers, but many were still keeping away from it.

“People do not realise that verification is for their safety. But the police are still requesting them and some areas of the city will see an awareness drive through beating of drums. The drum beats will catch people’s attention and then the police accompanying the drum beater will tell them about the advantages,” a police officer told The Telegraph.

The police are also thinking of new means to ensure verification takes place. The police will be in a position to disclose them only after things materialise, the officer said.

Earlier, Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj had said the police succeeded in distributing tenant verification forms in Patliputra and Kankerbagh. Around 60,000 forms were distributed. “But residents didn’t return with filled-up forms.”

Emphasising why verification was a must, a police officer said criminals had come and stayed at private lodges or a house on rent, recced and, after the murder or robbery, disappeared. After that it was the house owner who got into legal hassles. “Tenant verification is even more important after last year’s terror attack in Patna,” the officer said.