Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stringent order mandating the surrender of all licensed weapons and the seizure of illegal arms across Bihar following the murder of RJD leader Dularchand Yadav in Mokama. The move comes as the state gears up for the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, with the Commission aiming to maintain strict law and order.
According to officials, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar held a high-level review meeting on Friday with senior state and police officers to assess the security situation. The Commission directed that all guidelines ensuring peaceful and fair elections be enforced without compromise.
“After the Mokama incident, the administration has been put on high alert. Officials have been instructed to implement preventive measures to curb violence and maintain peace during the election process,” an ECI source said.
The directive includes increased surveillance in border areas, monitoring of anti-social elements and rumor-mongers, and heightened security at sensitive polling stations. The Commission has also discussed EVM and strong room security to prevent any tampering or disruption during the counting process.
The murder of Dularchand Yadav, a former strongman-turned-RJD leader, has sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political landscape. According to the post-mortem report, Yadav died not from gunshot wounds, as initially believed, but from injuries sustained when a vehicle ran over his chest, exposing what police now describe as a premeditated plot. The autopsy was conducted in the presence of a magistrate and a team of three doctors at Baadh Subdivision Hospital.
Political observers say the killing could inflame tensions in Mokama, a politically sensitive region long associated with high-profile leaders and criminal networks. With polling just days away, the Commission’s swift action underscores its resolve to prevent any disruption to the democratic process.
The first phase of voting in the Bihar Assembly elections will take place on November 6, followed by the second phase on November 11. Results will be declared on November 14.
