Raj border with Haryana fortified, cops set up 13 check posts

Until a few days ago, residents of Rampura village in Churu district could easily go to Nangal village, across the border in Haryana, for routine work, but no longer. They now have to go through a police check post, where they face questions from the cops. Rampura, in Hamirwas police station area, is the last village in Rajasthan along the border with Haryana.
With the assembly polls in Rajasthan scheduled for November 25, the state's border with Haryana has been fortified, and the frequency of meetings among senior police officials of the two states for sharing information about wanted criminals has increased.
The Rajasthan government has set up 13 police check posts in three police station areas in Churu district that share the border with Haryana. There are five check posts under Hamirwas police station, five in Rajgarh, and three in Sidhmukh police station areas. CCTV cameras have also been installed at the check posts to keep a close eye on vehicles passing through the border.
"Every time I go to Nangal, my vehicle is checked by policemen. Security by the cops has increased in this area," said Kishore Prajapat, a resident of the border area.
People from this part of Rajasthan often go to Haryana to get petrol and diesel, which are cheaper there. In fact, in many places in Haryana just beyond the Nangal check post, one can see signboards at fuel stations mentioning 'Petrol, diesel Rajasthan se sasta' (Petrol and diesel are cheaper here than in Rajasthan).
While petrol stations in the border areas of Haryana make good business out of customers coming from Rajasthan, losing revenue has hardly caused much of a concern for the Rajasthan government. But now, preventing crime in the election-bound state is a top priority.
"Churu has lately become a transit route for illegal liquor, too. Election Commission of India observed it and transferred the district SP recently," said Rajendra Rathore, the Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly, while meeting supporters in his constituency here.
Illegal liquor from Haryana and Punjab enters Rajasthan through Churu, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu and Alwar districts and reaches Rajasthan's hinterland districts before going right up to neighbouring Gujarat, ECI observed.
Hamirwas SHO Rajesh Kumar said police have a tough job preventing the influx of illegal liquor, money and weapons into Rajasthan from Haryana. He said the police check post at Rampura village was set up strategically.
"Vehicles carrying money, weapons or liquor (in prohibited amounts) coming from Haryana cannot escape easily because, when they pass the railway underpass, there is no way they can escape our check post, and we will intercept them," explained Kumar.
Police have also formed flying surveillance teams (FST) that patrol in interior villages of Churu district. "The police informer network has also been strengthened in the area. Hamirwas police station limits are among the largest in Rajasthan. It covers a stretch of 85 km through 97 villages. We often face challenges as it takes time to reach the crime spot in interior areas due to long distances," said a police officer.
Rajasthan Police is taking help from its Haryana counterpart in preventing the influx of criminals, money, liquor and weapons into the election-bound state. Police officers of both the states are holding frequent meetings for close coordination to ensure violence-free and fair assembly polls in Rajasthan.