M A I N   N E W S

Shoot-at-sight order in Bihar
Leaders’ entry in constituencies banned

Patna, April 22
The Election Commission has banned the entry of ministers, legislators and MPs in their constituencies till the completion of tomorrow’s fourth phase of panchayat elections in Bihar, while the state government has issued shoot-at-sight orders to counter booth grabbers and anti-social elements.

State Director-General of Police R. R. Prasad said here today that the police would not spare anybody indulging in unlawful activities in the fourth phase of the election.

He said the police would open fire on anybody who is noticed creating trouble within a radius of 100 metres of any polling booth during the voting.

Mr Prasad said all inspectors-general of police and police superintendents had been directed to ensure “effective’’ action against culprits during the election. He said the candidates had also been advised to keep a close watch on anti-social elements in their respective areas and inform the authorities accordingly.

The state police chief said the poll preparation was being reviewed at a high-level meeting attended by senior administrative and police officers for holding the elections at 20,259 polling booths in 1,472 panchayats and 85 blocks peacefully.

He said strong action would be taken against polling personnel failing to check booth-capturing and disturbance at their places of deputation. Police forces would be deployed at polling booths and sniffer dogs had already been pressed into service in the extremist-infested areas.

The DGP said over 200 anti-social elements, including extremists, were arrested as precautionary measures.

He said the Indo-Nepal border and the border of the state all along Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh were sealed in view of the election.

Meanwhile, sources at the State Election Commission said the commission had prohibited the entry of ministers and legislators in their areas in view of the complaints regarding tampering of the elections in favour of their candidates.

A report from Bagha of West Champaran quoting Police Superintendent Amrendra Kumar Ambedkar said that cops of task force were deployed in the bordering area to hold the elections peacefully. UNI