Patna: As the Maoist-affected seats in Bihar and a couple of them along the Indo-Nepal border go to polls tomorrow in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission has stepped up security arrangements by making the heaviest deployment of forces so far in the state.
The EC has moved 66,000 security personnel including 143 companies of Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF), 74 companies of Bihar Military Police (BMP) and 27,766 district police personnel for the elections tomorrow and has deputed over 3,000 magistrates and 21 poll observers to ensure smooth voting in the seven constituencies - Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Ujiarpur, Hajipur, Saran and Maharajganj.
“All possible steps are being taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls. Arrangements are being made as per the EC guidelines,” Bihar Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ajay V Nayak told reporters.
Of the seven parliamentary constituencies, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Ujiarpuar and Hajipur are Naxal-affected.
