Hazaribagh: Chatra SP Anjani Kumar has instructed the management committee of the famous Ma Bhadrakali temple in Itkhori block to send a proposal to set up a police picket in the area.

The demand for a police picket near the shrine, which is popular among the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, was first made in February 2014 when Maoist rebels had attacked a police patrol team and killed a cop.

The temple, which contains several ancient deities, dates back to the Pal dynasty of the 9th century.

According to a legend, Gautam Buddha came here once and stayed for some time. One day his aunt visited him and started calling his name while he was meditating. Failing to elicit any response, she left the place with the comment "Iti khoi" which in Pali means "I lost him here". Later, the place came to be known as Itkhori.

Sources said Kumar visited the temple on Sunday and inspected the site for the proposed picket.

Underscoring the need for the picket, members of the temple committee said the shrine, located around 65km from the Chatra district headquarters, was thronged by Hindus and Buddhist and Jain monks from various countries round the year.

DSP Pitambar Singh Khairwar said the picket would come up on government land.

DSP Pitambar Singh Khairwar said work on setting up the picket would begin as soon as the proposal reached the SP. He said the picket would come up on government land.

Officials hope that the picket would be ready before the start of Itkhori mahotsava in February.