Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Elaborate security arrangements in Bihar to counter Maoist threats in fourth phase

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In the fourth phase of polling in Bihar, 17,000 central armed police force and 22,000 state police force personnel have been deployed to conduct free and fair elections in Maoist-infested areas of Munger and Lakhisarai districts.

The fourth phase of parliament elections being held on April 29 in Bihar’s predominantly Maoist-infested areas of Munger and Lakhisarai districts have posed a major challenge for security personnel as intelligence inputs indicated that Maoists in the area have become active ahead of the polls. Begusarai, Munger, Ujiarpur, Samastipur and Darbhanga are the five constituencies that are voting on April 29.

Security arrangements have been put in place in Bihar’s Darbhanga and Begusarai for 4th phase of polling on April 29, 2019, as both these constituencies has had a history of violence during elections. (PTI File Photo / Representative Photo)

17,000 central armed police force and 22,000 state police force personnel have been deployed to conduct free and fair elections, but intelligence inputs suggest that Maoists have planted several landlines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other explosives near polling booths or roads leading to polling booths to inflict maximum damage.

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According to a senior police officer, given the Maoist threat, conducting polling in four districts of the five Lok Sabha constituencies has become a herculean task for security personnel, as it is a nightmare to provide security in all these districts.

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“The SPs of these districts have been asked to take extra precaution and be vigilant till the polls are over in their respective districts,” said a senior police official of state police headquarters. Security of these district police chiefs has been tightened by providing additional forces, he said.

Maoists, through posters in different parts of state, have declared that they would disrupt the polls and target those on the hit list of their outfit.

Security arrangements have been put in place in Darbhanga and Begusarai as both these constituencies has had a history of violence during elections. Mounted military police of several companies would be deployed in riverine areas of Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger parliamentary constituencies while strict vigil would be maintained along the river coast to check the movements of Maoists on the day of polling.

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