Meerut: In view of the upcoming elections, local administration in Bijnor has challaned more than 44,000 people suspected to be troublemakers. Another 283 people with criminal antecedents have been arrested.Giving this information to mediapersons here on Saturday, district magistrate Sujeet Kumar said apart from crackdown on criminals, security has been stepped up at 1,200 polling booths marked as “sensitive” and “ultra-sensitive” in the district. Officials added that the district has 174 “vulnerable” and 1,274 “critical” polling booths.Elections in the district will be held in three phases. The first phase will be held on April 11. Polls in Nagina (reserved seat) will be conducted in the second phase on April 18 while elections Moradabad parliamentary seat having one assembly segment — Badhapur in Bijnor district — will be held on April 23.District magistrate Sujeet Kumar said, “We have started making preparations for conducting fair and peaceful polls here in the district. Observers have arrived here and they will also be keeping a close watch on poll activities. Around 72 flying squads have been formed to keep a tab on the poll activities. As many as 238 sector magistrates, 32 zone magistrate and 72 statistics magistrates have been given charge to conduct the polls.”According to superintendent of police Sanjeev Tyagi, “Around 1,536 historysheeters have been shortlisted. Police will keep a close watch on them. We have served notices under CrPC to 44,407 people who are suspected to be troublemakers. As many as 283 criminals have been arrested and five illegal arms factories were raided since March 18 and 85 countrymade pistols, 23 bombs, 132 cartridges and 15 knives have been seized from difference places.”SP said, “Police are keeping a tab on liquor mafia. Police have seized around 11,000 litres of illegal liquor and destroyed 173 quintals of raw material.” He warned that if anyone tries to spoil the peace and create a nuisance in the district, he will not be spared.

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