ECI reviews security at inter-State borders ahead of Assembly polls in Bihar

In view of the Bihar Assembly election, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday (October 30, 2025) directed senior officials of the States of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to ensure heightened vigilance in areas bordering the State with enhanced checks at inter-State posts to monitor movement of people, materials and money.

The ECI gave the direction at a coordination meeting on inter-State border issues in Bihar held with the Chief Secretaries, DGPs and Principal Secretaries (Home) of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, along with officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Railways and all enforcement agencies.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, reviewed law-and-order arrangements in Bihar and its neighbouring States to monitor movement of people, materials and money, including arms, anti-social elements, liquor, narcotics and freebies between States and across the international border with Nepal.

A special focus was placed on bordering districts and sealing of borders to maintain peace and order, an official statement here said.

During the meeting, Mr. Kumar underscored the Commission’s commitment to free, fair, peaceful and inducement-free elections, calling upon all stakeholders to work seamlessly to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

The Commission also reviewed compliance with voter-facilitation directions to ensure a pleasant and smooth experience for voters on the day of polling. The Chief Secretaries and DGPs, along with heads of central agencies, were directed to ensure a peaceful and inducement-free election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar.

The Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and the DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were instructed to ensure heightened vigilance in areas bordering Bihar, with enhanced checks at inter-State posts.

Central agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Income Tax Department, Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), were directed to intensify efforts in the run-up to the polls and maximise seizures acting upon actionable intelligence.