NEW DELHI, June 23 (UNI) The election Commission today directed the state government to execute all non-bailable warrants pending against criminals and conduct special search operations to unearth illegal arms ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar.
In a series of instructions to ensure free and fair elections in the state, the Commission has ordered preventive action against habitual offenders and anti-social elements to prevent them from participating in the electoral exercise.
The commission, concerned with the role of criminals in the state at the time of previous elections in februry, issued the directions after its two-member team visited state and submitted a report on the law and order sitution.
The preventive arrests of criminals would enable the commission to hold "free and fair" elections as the state, sources in the commission said.
The commission, was keen to take all precautionary steps before the announcements of election schedule.
In the run-up to the elections, the commission has also sought weekly report from the districts authorities in order to ensure that anti-social elements remain out of the elections arena.
The commission, which is now busy in finalising the dates, has already sent a two-member team recently to ascertain the ground reality.
The re-election in the state became necessary as in the february, 2005 general election, no party was able to form the government.
Earlier, the central government had put the assembly in "suspended animation" but later announced the re-election in the state, fearing "horse-trading".
However, nda claimed that it was close to forming the government and opposed the imposition of President rule.
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's RJD was ruling in the state for the past 15 years.
