The police administration has put Khukru block in Ichagarh assembly segment in Seraikela-Kharsawan district under scanner where polling in third phase will be held on Thursday.

Though Ichagarh and adjoining Khukru block where the Assembly poll is to be held was not known for any naxal movement till June this year, but after massacre of five policemen by the CPI-Maoist rebels at Khukru haat on June 14 evening had brought the area under scanner.

Five policemen were killed as CPI-Maoist rebels attacked a patrol party at Khukru block under Chandil sub-divisional in adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district, about 70 Kms away from here on June 14. The rebels who had come in two bikes attacked the police party which was patrolling at the vicinity of a weekly-haat  known as Khukru haat under Tiruldih thana area in Khukru block at about 6.30 pm.  The rebels who were reportedly six in number had killed the policemen by attacking them with knives. Having killed them, they took away the rifles of the cops and fled.

Seraikela-Kharsawan SP, Karthik S confirmed that naxal movement is on in the district, including in the area falling under Ichagarh Assembly constituency.

“We have made proper security arrangements.  The para-military forces that have been deployed for maintaining security during the poll include CRPF, CISF, Jharkhand Jaguar, Jharkhand Armed Police, Border Security Force and district police,” the SP said.

Karthik pointed out that the para-military forces as well as the district police have been instructed to follow standard operational process (SOP) while extending security cover to the polling parties as well as the voters.

A police officer posted at the Chandil sub-division pointed out that the rebels had in November resorted to poster campaign at Gamharia on Tata-Kandra Road, calling for poll boycott.  The rebels had also resorted to poster campaign in adjoining West Singhbhum district, urging the local residents to boycott the poll.