Bihar Governor Buta Singh has constituted a three-member task force to monitor police operations to arrest 20,000 absconding criminals in the wake of a Patna high court order.

Official sources close to the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of Singh, said the task force comprised state Chief Secretary K A H Subramanian, Director General of Police Narayan Mishra and the Home Commissioner Girish Shankar.

• President's rule in Bihar

The HC had on Tuesday directed the state police to arrest absconders against whom non-bailable warrants and property attachment orders were pending. It had ordered that the criminals be produced before the courts that had issued the warrants and the orders by March 30. It also warned of action against police officials if the order was not carried out.

The task force has prepared a list of the 20 'most wanted' to be arrested at the earliest, police sources said. It has sent the list of names to all superintendents of police, the sources added.

Persons wanted for cases of dacoity, like Bhangar Yadav (West Champaran district), Satish Pandey of Gopalganj, Ashok Mahto (Nawada), Ayub Khan and Rayeesh Khan (both Siwan), Krishna Yadav (Munger) and Pagla Yadav of Katihar, figure in the list of 'most wanted', the sources said.

The task force has been told to apprise the governor daily of the progress in the drive, the sources said.

There have been reports that many criminals have fled to other states fearing action during the President's rule.

• Buta Singh to effect major reshuffle

Buta Singh has authorised Subramanian to act as his special advisor till the Centre appointed its advisors. The governor is without a central advisor even after 12 days of President's rule in Bihar.

Meanwhile, Syed Nasir Ali was appointed as the officer on special duty to the governor.

With PTI inputs