Lok Sabha elections: 17,000 security personnel OK’d for four Maoist-hit districts

PATNA: The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has approved deployment of 124 companies of paramilitary forces or 17,000 security personnel in four Maoist-affected parliamentary constituencies in the state. The four constituencies – Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui – will go to polls in the first phase on April 11.


Sources in state police headquarters said of the 124 companies of paramilitary forces to be deployed in the Maoist-hit districts of the state, 36 are of Central Reserve Police Force, 32 of Sashastra Seema Bal, 20 of India Reserve Battalion, 15 of Railway Protection Force, seven of Central Industrial Security Force, three of Indo-Tibetan Border Police, four of Border Security Force, four of Madhya Pradesh Armed Police and three of Haryana Armed Police.

“The state government had requested the Centre to deploy at least 185 companies of paramilitary forces to conduct peaceful elections in the Maoist-hit constituencies,” the sources said.

“The 55 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), which had reached Bihar for area domination exercise prior to Holi, have been included on the list of 124 companies of paramilitary forces. The CAPF personnel will be withdrawn from their present locations and redeployed for the first phase of polling,” sources said.

In 2014 general election, six constituencies – Sasaram, Karakat, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui – had gone to polls in the first phase amid deployment of 163 companies of paramilitary forces.

Police sources said the Maoists might attempt to disrupt polling in the first phase. “With the Centre deploying adequate number of central forces, any attempt by the Maoists to disrupt the poll process will be thwarted,” they added.

Sources in the office of chief electoral officer, Bihar, said the first phase of polls would see around 70.36 lakh people exercising their franchise in four constituencies – Aurangabad (17.37 lakh voters), Gaya (16.98 lakh voters), Nawada (18.92 lakh voters) and Jamui (17.09 lakh voters). There are 1,965 polling stations in Aurangabad, 1,772 in Gaya, 1,899 in Nawada and 1,850 in Jamui.

The forces, sources said, would be deployed strategically with emphasis on polling booths in rural areas.

“Since the elections will be held in seven phases in the state this time, the central forces will remain stationed till the completion of the poll process. They will be deployed in different constituencies phase-wise,” the sources added.