Bihar: Action against DMs who remained indoors

Patna, May 18: Bihar governmnent has identified District Magistrate who failed to take preventive steps for averting violent incidents during the first phase of the state Panchayat election on May 15.

As many as 15 people were killed in the first phase.

State Home Commissioner Afzal Amanullah told newspersons here yesterday that action would be initiated against six to seven DMs after the conclusion of the election process. He said the government would not spare such officers who confined themselves in the ''cool of their offices'' and did not make proper arrangements for free and fair elections.

Mr Amanullah said externment orders had been issued to more than ten politicians of Nawada, Gaya and Chapra districts. He, however, refused to divulge their names.

Director general of police Ashish Ranjan Sinha had said that the administration would make ''maximum use'' of 63 companies of central para military forces available with the state during the second phase of the Panchayat election today.

He said that 1100 jawans of Government Railway Police, nearly 100 companies of Bihar Military Police, 3000 jawans of newly raised Special Auxillary Police (comprising ex-Army men) and 53,000 Home Guards would be deployed on poll duty.

He said security guards for VIPs (senior police officers and others) had also been withdrawn for their depolyment in the poll duty.

UNI