Patna, April 25 (Inditop) Over 300,000 “suspected troublemakers” have been identified by authorities in Bihar and asked to furnish bonds, vowing not to take to violence during the next two phases of the Lok Sabha polls in the state April 30 and May 7, police said Saturday.
“All the identified troublemakers were directed to furnish bonds, pledging that they will not create a disturbance during the elections,” said Additional Director General of Police Neelmani.
He said this move by the government had proved fruitful as the state witnessed mostly peaceful polls during the first and second phase barring Maoist violence. In the first round, two securitymen were killed in Gaya district by Maoists and five people, including four security personnel, were killed in a landmine blast triggered by the rebels in Muzaffarpur district.
Official sources in the home department said the police have seized over 200 illegal weapons, and unearthed 40 illegal gun factories.
Neelmani said the police in Bihar started the drive to identify and warn “troublemakers and habitual offenders” ahead of the general elections last month.
Bihar has witnessed widespread violence and booth capturing in the past during elections. In the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, 74 people were killed. About 20 people were killed in the 2004 general elections and 158 during the 2001 panchayat elections.
rounak