Tuesday, August 16 2005 20:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Voicing concern over spurt in crime and Naxalites violence, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Aug 16, 2005) expressed serious doubts about holding of peaceful assembly elections in Bihar under President's rule.

Killing of five persons in Nawada in gang war, Naxalites blowing up Chabilapur police station in Nalanda and criminals kidnapping two officials of a private insurance company from the capital in a week are enough to show the poor law and order situation

We seriously doubt that a peaceful poll is possible under President's rule, state BJP campaign committee, Chairman and former Union minister C P Thakur told reporters.

Alleging that crimes had soared under Central rule, Thakur said anti-socials and Naxalites are continuing their nefarious activities with impunity and the administration is proving to be thoroughly incompetent to check their activities.

Thakur, who headed BJP's fact-finding team to Nawada and Nalanda, said the people, particularly in the remote areas, have lost faith in the government to provide them security.

The people of Dola village of Nawada district, where five persons were gunned down in gang rivalry while having Prasad after a puja on August 11, are demanding arms licenses for self-defence, Thakur said.

The BJP leader felt that extremist attack on Chabilapur police station on August 12 bore testimony to intelligence failure.

Accusing Governor Buta Singh of having failed to check spiraling crime, he urged the Center and the Election Commission to take corrective steps to tackle the alarming situation.