Home guard jawans load their firearms before leaving for panchayat poll duty in Gaya on Tuesday. Picture by Suman

Motihari, April 19: Nearly 2,500 police officials and constables have left for different places under Maoist-affected Madhuban, Phenhara and Tetariya blocks, which go for panchayat polls on Wednesday.

Besides the district armed police, the teams also include home guard jawans, special auxiliary police and the central paramilitary force.

The polls are slated to begin at 7am and continue till 3pm. Sources in the district administration said it has completed all the necessary preparations for the polls.

East Champaran superintendent of police (SP) Ganesh Kumar said the entire area where elections are scheduled on Wednesday has been divided into 15 sectors where an adequate number of constables with police officers and magistrates have been deployed.

They have also been directed to give the latest poll percentage in every two hours and be on alert at all times to constantly monitor the law and order situation under their jurisdictions.

Besides putting an effective ban on the movement of unauthorised vehicles, the police officers have also been directed to deposit their ballot boxes before leaving the strong room.

Meanwhile, in view of a possible Naxalite threat, who may either influence the voters in favour of a particular candidate or terrorise them, the policemen on duty have been alerted and given specific instructions to deal with the situation.

In several villages, members of the banned outfit have issued directives to the voters to boycott the polls and appealed to the people not to participate in the elections.

Sources said, there are a number of candidates with Naxalite connections in several areas, particularly in the eastern parts of the district.

In Muzaffarpur, candidates in the fray for panchayat elections may be debarred from contesting further polls if they indulge in violence or unlawful practices during polling.

Director-general of police (DGP) Neel Mani passed the order and other election guidelines to senior officers of Tirhut, Saran, Bettiah and Darbhanga regions yesterday.

FIRs will also be lodged against candidates found indulging in violence within 100 yards of the polling booths. If skirmishes occur within 100 yards of the booths, the polling officials would lodge FIRs against the candidates for triggering violence.