Jail security in Bihar tightened after alert on Maoists

Security around 12 jails in Bihar has been tightened in view of intelligence reports that Naxalites are planning to carry out a major operation on the pattern of the Jehanabad jailbreak in November 2005.

Security around 12 jails in Bihar has been tightened in view of intelligence reports that Naxalites are planning to carry out a major operation on the pattern of the Jehanabad jailbreak in November 2005.

“We have received intelligence inputs about Maoists’ plan to carry out a major attack on Bihar jails in November,” said a senior police officer posted at the state police headquarters.

He said SPs of about a dozen districts had been asked to intensify patrolling around jails in which hard-boiled Naxal leaders were lodged. “Additional police personnel had been deployed in these jails as a precautionary measure,” he added.

A Home department official said that a close watch was being kept on some prisoners booked in cases related to Naxal violence. Besides, CCTVs have been installed at the entrance of some important jails to watch activities of visitors to the jail.

“As a precautionary measure, instructions are being issued to jail superintendents concerned to shift hardened Naxals to different wards and if required to other jails,” he said, adding that the intelligence wing was also being strengthened.

Sources said that the Naxalites held a secret meeting at a village in Jehanabad district recently to chalk out a strategy to carry out a major operations. A repeat of the Jehanabad jailbreak was aimed at emboldening the lower rung cadre.

“The Maoists planned to attack Gaurichak police station in Patna rural to divert the attention of the police. The Beur Central Jail, which at present has more than a dozen hard-boiled Naxal leaders, is a target of the Maoists,” he said.

“As the Beur jail is located in a densely populated area and also close to the National Highway, it is easy for Maoists to carry out such an operation,” said the police official. “The recovery of a huge quantity of explosives, arms and ammunition over the last several days in the State capital indicates the nefarious design of Maoists,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bihar police have sought 12 additional battalions of the Central Para-military Police Force (CPMF) to carry out a special drive against Naxals. At present, the state has 23 companies of the CPMF.