Ahead of polls, Bhagalpur administration orders crackdown against criminals

Bhagalpur: As a preparation for holding peaceful elections, the district administration has directed the sub-divisional officers (SDOs) and SDPOs besides other police officials to take preventive steps against the anti-social elements and criminals who have a shady background.Directives have also been issued to launch a drive against illegal arms and ammunition besides registering FIRs under the Arms Act against those who are found possessing them.Presiding over a meeting with district and sub-divisional level officials from administration and police department, DM Nawal Kishor Choudhary directed the officials to make elaborate arrangements for the state assembly elections beforehand.A directive to take action under Sections 126 and 135 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against the anti-social elements and criminals, who had been involved in intimidating the electorate in the past has been issued, the DM said Friday.The DM said directives have been given to the officials to ensure the appearance of criminals in respective police stations on fixed dates and time.The SDOs and SDPO have also been directed to prepare a dossier of the anti-social elements and criminals against whom charges were framed in the past 10 years, including fomenting caste and religious controversies and disputes in the society, said the DM, adding preventive legal action would be taken against such elements to ensure peaceful elections.The block development officers (BDOs) and SHOs of police stations have also been asked to hold meetings with political parties, when required.He said steps for mapping of sensitive polling stations are also being undertaken, adding the legal cell has been directed to make sure that the arms licences are checked and verified at the police station levels.