Gaya SP Sunil Jha conceded the security of poll personnel and cops is a big challenge for the police administration. The non-availability of mine-sweepers has added to the woes of the security agencies.

As a precautionary measure, senior police officials have directed the police and patrolling parties to avoid the use of vehicles except on the main roads and take to walking to reach the polling stations. Moreover, the main roads would be checked before the passage of polling parties.

The SP said extreme care is being exercised to ensure safety of the poll personnel. The SP hoped that the do's and dont's prescribed for the poll personnel and cops escorting the poll parties would be strictly followed.

The SP also said that all the 114 companies of central para-military forces would be deployed at the polling stations as static parties to ensure peaceful and fair poll.

The deployment pattern of the central forces has been a major cause of controversy in the past elections. Whereas the static deployment of the central forces would be done at the polling stations, other jobs, like road-checking and patrolling would be done by the local police, said Jha.