By IANS,
Patna : The authorities have uncovered 12 illegal “factories” in Bihar producing guns for use by thugs during the Lok Sabha elections, police said Saturday.
The police have also seized 55 illegal weapons in a drive launched against trouble-makers ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“The police headquarters has instructed all the district police chiefs to book trouble-makers including criminals,” a police official said here.
The crackdown follows an Election Commission directive to ensure violence free polls.
According to Additional Director General of Police Neelmani, 12,900 non-bailable warrants, issued by different courts, have been executed and more will follow in the coming days.
Police sources said about 53,000 non-bailable warrants were pending in different police stations.
Elections in Bihar have witnessed widespread violence in the past. In the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, 74 people were killed. About 20 were killed in 2004. The 2001 panchayat elections saw 158 deaths.