Bhagalpur, April 12: Fear of Naxalites has once again gripped the people of eastern Bihar, which is set to go for the panchayat polls on April 20.

Just like last year’s Assembly elections, the Maoists have issued a threat warning people against going out and casting their votes. The rebels have started an anti-poll campaign and mostly targeted places that are largely inaccessible in the district.

“Naxalites have threatened us not to participate in the polls. They have also threatened the candidates not to start the poll campaigning,” a Munger villager told The Telegraph. Villagers from Jamui, Banka and Khagaria districts echoed the same.

“Many armed men are coming to our villages since the past couple of weeks. Many of them are in uniforms,” several villagers in Jamui said. Many candidates fighting for the posts of mukhiyas said they have been threatened not to participate in the panchayat polls.

“We have informed the police about it. If this incident gets highlighted it would hamper our poll prospects,” said a mukhiya candidate in Munger, adding that panchayat polls are more complicated than other elections, which is why extra steps are required during the polls.

Sources in the police confirmed the poll boycott call by the Naxalites and said posters have been recovered from Belhar block of Banka and Lakshmipur block in Jamui.

“What is new about it (the threat)? We are keeping tabs on the movement of the outfit. We have decided to conduct the polls without any disruptions,” a senior police official said. The officer said 26 blocks along with 67 panchayats under Jamui, Munger, Lakhisarai, Banka, Bhagalpur and Khagaria are largely Naxalite-affected. Superintendent of police in Banka Shyam Kumar said police have the information of rebels and have started conducting raids on the basis of the information.

He said: “Joint raids were conducted by Banka and Jamui police at the bordering areas of the districts, which is covered by dense forests.” He added that the police did not have any success after the operation.

Company commander of 131 battalion of central reserve police force Bidhan Chandra Patra said five Naxalites were killed in a gun battle on March 31 in Hasikol forest on the foothills of Battiya valley in Naxalite-hit Jamui district.

The police have identified blocks including Lakshmipur, Chakai, Jhajha, Khaira, Sikendara, Barhet, Sono under Jamui, Haveli Kharaghpur, Dharhara, Bariarpur, Sangrampur under Munger, Belhar, Katoria, Chandan, Bounsi, Amarpur, Phullidoomar under Banka, Surajgara, Kajra, Chanan, Bannu Bagicha under Lakhisarai, Alouli, Khagaria, Mansi, Gogri, Beldur under Khagaria, Sahakund and Sultanganj under Bhagalpur as the most Naxalite-hit.