Tight security and shoot-at-sight order in Bihar

Ahead of the first phase general elections on Thursday, the Bihar state administration has issued shoot-at-sight orders to tackle any grim security challenge. 13 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats would go for polls.

Bihar's Home Secretary Afzal Amannulah said: "The state’s borders with Nepal and neighbouring states have been sealed and we have ordered shoot at sight orders in case security personnel fail to control the situation."

Some of the prominent political figures who are vying for people’s mandate include: Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav (Saran), Rajiv Pratap Rudy of Bharatiya Janata Party (Saran), Union Ministers Meira Kumar of Congress (Sasaram) and Hina Shahab, wife of controversial RJD MP Md Shahabuddin (Siwan).

Election Commission has made out over 1.75 crore eligible electorate to cast their votes in the 13 constituencies to decide the fate of 223 candidates, including 21 women.

The constituencies to go for poll are: Gopalganj, Maharajganj, Ara, Gaya, Buxar, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Nawada, Saran, Sasaram, Siwan, Karakat and Jamui constituencies.

Security has also been tightened in all polling booths, including the Sasaram district where about 200 heavily armed Maoists attacked a Border Security Force (BSF) camp set up for the purpose of ensuring peaceful elections at Dhansha valley in Bihar’s Rohtas district early this morning.

- Agencies