The communal flare-up in Lohardaga has put East Singhbhum on tenterhooks over protests that are being held in pockets against the document-driven citizenship matrix.

Special patrolling has been ordered round the clock in minority-heavy areas, especially those where protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) had been held in the past and are planned in the coming days.

“We had deputed magistrates in the areas in Jugsalai and Mango where protest meetings and demonstrations had been staged against CAA/NRC and after the Lohardaga incident we have asked the magistrate to immediately let us know if any inflammatory speeches are given during the meetings. We will also be using drones for aerial surveillance during protest meetings,” said East Singhbhum senior superintendent of police Anoop Birtharay.

Sources in the police said that two protest meetings, proposed by the All India Minority Social Welfare Front (AIMSWF) at Gandhi Maidan in Mango on Saturday and Sunday, were cancelled after the administration requested the organisers.

“We persuaded the organisers against holding protest meetings at least for the next few days in view of the Lohardaga incident and they have agreed. We will not give any permission for rally and march to either supporters of or protesters against CAA,” said a senior police official.

AIMSWF convener Babar Khan said that the two-day “mahadharna” against CAA-NRC-NPR scheduled for the weekend at Gandhi Maidan in Mango had been cancelled.

“We will now stage a sit-in protest against the draconian law CAA on January 31 near the district collectorate,” said Khan.

Protest meetings against the NAA-NPR-NRC have been held in Mango, Jugsalai and even in Haldipokhar in Potka block. Meetings in support of the document-driven citizenship verification push have been held at Bodhi Temple ground in Sakchi.

The usual bandobast for Republic Day celebrations has also added to the workload of the men in uniform.

The administration will deploy more than 1,500 police constables along with around 70 traffic cops in different parts of the city and along the NH-33 on Sunday.

“We will carry out checking from Saturday night in the city and all city police stations have been asked to coordinate with traffic police for arms frisking at entry and exit points to the city and also along major roads,” SSP Birtharay said. “This apart, highway patrolling parties have been asked to be active along the NH-33 in Ghatshila and along the state highway between Sundernagar and Hata. We will also carry out checking of hotels and guesthouses.”

Special checking will be carried out with breathalysers for rash and drink driving on Sunday in strategic places in the city.

The SSP said joint combing operations along with the CRPF have begun in rebel-affected areas in Ghatshila and Patamda to prevent any Maoist activity during Republic Day functions.

Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) special officer Krishna Kumar said that following a directive from the state urban development department the JNAC would be strictly enforcing a total ban on slaughter of any animal on Sunday. Excise units of Jamshedpur will enforce dry day prohibiting sale of liquor from outlets on Sunday.