Jahanabad (Bihar), Apr 13: To persuade villagers of Jahanabad District, who till now were staying away from voting due to fear of local goons, the Bihar authorities are making special arrangements to provide adequate security.

The state authorities claim that they have paid notice to the complaints of the residents of Vishunpur and Kishunpur villages, and are doing their level best to make available safe polling booths to the villagers.

The villagers had complained that some local goons, hired for vested interests, were stopping them from casting votes.

"We went couple of times but have not been able to cast our votes even though we want to," said Gangia Devi, a villager.

"Every time we go to vote, the goons start firing at us and then we return without casting our votes. Here there are almost three villages, which have not cast their votes till now," said Maneshwar Prasad, another villager.

However, the District Magistrate has assured that enough security cover would be provided to the villagers so that they can cast their votes without any fear.

"The entire district administration and the police department will make sure that the voters cast their votes without any fear. For that we have identified few locations, where they (goons) might attack. We will stay alert and will visit those areas and anyone who tries to stop the voting process will be nabbed. Police force will also be deployed in those areas," said Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, District Magistrate, Jahanabad.

General elections are being held in India between April 16 and May 13, in which 714 million people would be eligible to cast their votes.

Bihar would go to poll in four phases: April 16, 22, 23 and 30 and May 7. (ANI)