Hazaribag: Acting on the directions of Hazaribag SP Aman Kumar, police have intensified surveillance across key commercial establishments, including banks, petrol pumps and jewellery shops, as part of a district-wide security audit. The move comes in the wake of the April 24 heist at a public sector bank’s branch in Barhi, in which criminals decamped with gold worth around Rs 2 crore and Rs 4 lakh in cash.Sources said that to check such crimes, police have planned a major surveillance drive roping in DSP, inspector and SI rank officials. All assigned police teams will have to visit banks, jewellery shops and petrol pumps sign the registers kept in these establishments to mark their presence during patrolling duty.Kumar said, “The campaign, led by all DSPs and inspectors, is being executed through officers in-charge of different police stations across the district and will continue on a regular basis.”Under the drive, police have identified 140 banks for close monitoring. Surveillance teams are also keeping a watch on 102 petrol pumps on a daily basis, while 146 jewellery shops have been brought under special vigil. In total, 388 establishments have been covered under the drive so far.Kumar said, “Registers have been opened at all identified locations, where patrolling officers have been instructed to mark their daily presence. The entries will be monitored by the district control room to ensure accountability and regular checks. The initiative aims to prevent crime and enhance security preparedness at vulnerable points across the district.”Criminals involved in the daylight heist at the bank in Barhi are still at large. Police, however, said that they are working on the case and it will be cracked soon.“Police have been conducting continuous searches in nearby areas as well as along the border with Bihar. Several teams are engaged in searching for suspects at different locations,” said an officer.
