Monday, January 31 2005 13:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: In view of stepped up violence by the naxalites who have called a boycott of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Government has decided to press into service two helicopters for aerial patrolling during polls.

Director General of Police Narain Mishra said that though the State had requested for three choppers, the Center had agreed to provide two, which will arrive on February 2, a day ahead of the first phase of polling.

64 constituencies of the naxalite-hit Munger, Banka, Jamui, Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal, Gaya and Nawada are going to polls in the first phase on February 3.

Commandos of the Special Task Force (STF) led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police rank official armed with sophisticated weapons would patrol the skies.

The STF personnel in these choppers will be in touch with all the police stations through high-frequency wireless sets, he said, adding wherever necessary, these choppers would be used to transport security personnel, aerial and ground strikes and evacuation work.

Meanwhile, the SPs of Jamui, Munger, Nawada, Arwal, Jehanabad, Gaya and Aurangabad, who are on the hit list of the CPI-Maoists (Communist Party of India) have been provided with bullet-proof vehicles.

The naxalites, who have threatened to disrupt the elections, had on January 5 killed Munger Superintendent of Police K C Surendra Babu and five other policemen in a landmine blast at Bhimbandh.